Sialkot Stallions on second spot in Twenty20 rankings

LONDON: With no domestic Twenty20 games played last month, Australia’s Victorian Bushrangers, winners of back to back titles, remain at the top of the rankings for a fifth month with Pakistan’s Sialkot Stallions in second place followed by Surrey Brown Caps (3rd), Leicestershire Foxes (4th) and Somerset Sabres (5th) — all from England.

In sixth place are the Karachi Dolphins (Pakistan), followed closely by Tamil Nadu (India), winners of the first ever Inter-State Twenty20 Cup. Lahore Lions (Pakistan) are at eighth spot while Sri Lanka’s Chilaw Marians CC are at ninth.

The top ten is rounded out by another Pakistani team, Faisalabad Wolves, who were the winners of 2005 ABN-Amro Twenty20 Cup. However, the rankings will see some major changes this month though when the Twenty20 Cup starts in England.

Surrey, Leicestershire and Somerset will all be looking to move up the table and overtake the Bushrangers to claim the number one spot. As many as 92 teams from England, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and India have all been rated and included in the Bartercard Power Rankings.

The ratings are based on a number of important factors including runs scored, totals chased, loss of wickets and margins of victory. A team’s rating is then worked out by dividing the points scored in each game by the number of matches played; the totals are then given to the nearest whole number.

Team/Country Matches Pts Ranking
1. Victorian Bushrangers AUS 7 1761 221
2. Sialkot Stallions PAK 15 3314 220
3. Surrey Brown Caps ENG 33 7130 216
4. Leicestershire Foxes ENG 32 6900 215
5. Somerset Sabres ENG 27 5786 214
6. Karachi Dolphins PAK 16 3412 213
7. Tamil Nadu IND 10 2114 211
8. Lahore Lions PAK 11 2329 211
9. Chilaw Marians CC SL 13 2705 208
10. Faisalabad Wolves PAK 16 3336 208
11. Warwickshire Bears ENG 28 5805 207
12.Lahore Eagles PAK 14 2888 206
13. Yorkshire Phoenix ENG 25 5099 204
14. Glamorgan Dragons ENG 26 5256 202
15. Rawalpindi Rams PAK 10 2006 200
16. Gloucestershire Gladiators ENG 24 4804 200
17. Karachi Zebras PAK 11 2194 199
18. Punjab IND 10 1965 197
19. Northamptonshire Steelbacks ENG 25 4921 197
20. Peshawar Panthers PAK 10 1965 196

Toronto could host West Indies for Twenty20s

Toronto could host a Twenty20 tournament involving Pakistan, West Indies and Canada in August. If plans go ahead, the teams will play some warm-up matches ahead of the Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa the following month.

Contrary to other reports, however, nothing has been set in stone. A spokesman for the Canada board told Cricinfo there had been preliminary discussions with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB). "The CCA is most certainly supportive of the proposed event," he said, "particularly as we believe the 20/20 format is ideal for the North American market which is geared to three-hour Major League Baseball games.

"But, as yet, nothing is finalised. The prime consideration is the securing of global television rights - which are not yet in place."

The CCA had held preliminary discussions with the WICB in the early part of 2007 and it is understood that the WICB has also been in contact with Pakistan's board about the same event.
The tournament would have many benefits, not least for West Indies and Pakistan on a playing level. Pakistan have only played two Twenty20 matches to date, while West Indies have only played one.

Canada haven't played any, nor are they in the World Cup, but they would benefit financially. Another plus for them is that cricket in North America would be promoted at the same time.