World rankings flawed, says Waqar

Pakistan captain Waqar Younis called on Tuesday for cricket chiefs to devise a new system for ranking teams and players, insisting the current method made no sense at all.

"I just don't understand how these systems work," Waqar said of the International Cricket Council's (ICC) rankings.

"(South Africa fast bowler) Allan Donald has not played cricket for so long, yet he is number two in the rankings of one system.

"I would say our (team) position at eighth in the World Test Championship rankings is also not a true reflection of our standing," he told reporters.

He said Pakistan's low ranking was because they had played just one Test since July 2001 as a result of tour cancellations brought about by the instability in neighbouring Afghanistan.

He called for the ranking systems to be "regularised" so that a more fair assessment of teams and players would be available to cricket fans and asked for a better explanation of how the current system worked.

Saying Pakistan should be ranked in the top rather than bottom three, Waqar admitted this year would prove a real Test for Pakistan as they play West Indies, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.

"It is going to be a tough year for us but I think if we play to our potential we have the strength to finally confirm our ranking as a top three team and also improve our position in the world rankings," he said.

NEED MATCHES
Waqar admitted the lack of international cricket was frustrating his players and said it was difficult to keep them motivated.

He said: "I just hope we do get the series against West Indies this month -- even if we have to play at a neutral venue. We need maximum matches to prepare for the World Cup (in 2003)."

West Indies are due to tour Pakistan later in January but the series is threatened by border tension between Pakistan and neighbours India.

Pakistan cricket chiefs have said they would be prepared to play the series at a neutral venue if West Indies decided against touring.

Waqar, who leads a Pakistan squad on its first official Test tour of Bangladesh on Wednesday, insists his team would not take the newcomers lightly.

"I know there is a feeling that it will be a very easy series for us but we give them respect because they do have Test status and are playing actual international cricket.

"Bangladesh will be playing on their home ground...and are playing more cricket than us."

Waqar said he expected injury-plagued paceman Shoaib Akhtar to face no fitness problems on the Bangladesh tour.

"Akhtar has been cleared medically, there should be no problems," he said.

Also read:
- ICC Test Championship Table
- Waugh calls for one-day rankings system
- ICC bans Shoaib Akhtar
- Akhtar's action questioned by umpires
- Joyous Akhtar lauds ICC decision
- 'I'm like a wild horse' - Interview with Shoaib Akhtar

Mail Cricket Editor