ICC One Day International Championship Preview: Bank Alfalah Cup

Sri Lanka eyes third, New Zealand can climb rankings too

Sri Lanka will be looking to avenge its recent Sharjah defeat to Pakistan in the opening match of the Bank Alfalah Cup in Dambulla, Sri Lanka from 10th May 2003.

The outcome of the seven match tournament - which also includes New Zealand - could have a significant impact on the ICC One Day International Championship table.

Sri Lanka and New Zealand both have an opportunity to improve their ranking while Pakistan needs to perform creditably to hold on to third position.

After a disappointing ICC Cricket World Cup 2003, Pakistan bounced back with victory in the four-nation Cherry Blossom Cup in Sharjah in April and new captain Rashid Latif will be hoping to build on that triumph in Sri Lanka.

In spite of reaching the semi-final of the ICC CWC 2003, defeats to Kenya in that tournament and in Sharjah to Zimbabwe have caused Sri Lankas rating to slide. Sanath Jayasuriya has been replaced by Marvan Atapattu as captain for this series and the new man will need to guide Sri Lanka to more wins than defeats on home soil to prevent it slipping below India to fifth.

New Zealand is the team that will benefit most from a successful tournament. Stephen Flemings side currently has the same rating as England with West Indies only one point ahead. Success in Sri Lanka will enable New Zealand to pull clear of these rivals and close in on the top five.

Team          Matches   Points   Rating
Australia       46       6269     136
South Africa    57       6972     122
Pakistan        49       5471     112
Sri Lanka       60       6351     106
India           58       6047     104
West Indies     35       3463      99
New Zealand     45       4431      98
England         34       3337      98
Zimbabwe        44       2844      65
Kenya           25        704      28
Bangladesh      23        101       4

Gundappa Viswanath from the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Referees will officiate in all of the matches which take place in Dambulla and Colombo. Simon Taufel and Daryl Harper from the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires will stand in alternate matches.