BSS
  04 Sep 2024, 19:33

Lord's beckon Bangladesh 

DHAKA, Sept 4, 2024 (BSS)-Bangladesh stormed into top four spot in the ICC 
World Test Championship points table after sweeping the two-match series 
against Pakistan. 

They grabbed the fourth spot on percentage of points won. They have now 33 
points in six matches and if it's calculated, they have now 45.83 percentage 
point. For example, England have now 81 points in 15 matches but when it is 
calculated, they are just behind Bangladesh with 45 percentage point.

The percentage point will determine which two teams will play the final for 
the coveted trophy in 'Home of Cricket' Lord's from June 11-15 in 2025.

Currently India and Australia are in the top two spots with 68.52 and 62.5 
point percentage. New Zealand are in third spot with 50 points on percentage. 
If Bangladesh wouldn't have lost point for slow over rate in the first Test 
against Pakistan, they could be at third spot along with New Zealand.

Bangladesh, which were at the bottom table in the first two WTC, have six 
more matches in this year and so they can expect them to be in the final. It 
might sound shocking but the point system in WTC is such that any team, who 
can be consistent could find them in the final.

Bangladesh will next visit India for two-match series before hosting South 
Africa for the same number of Test matches. Thereafter they will tour in West 
Indies for two-match series. Amongst the Test nations, Bangladesh are yet to 
get any victory against India and South Africa. But the current form says, 
Bangladesh are able to break the jinx this time around.

After playing against Bangladesh, India will visit Australia for five-match 
Test series. Since the two teams are highly competitive in any kind of 
surface, there is chance that both of them would loss matches and thereby 
loss percentage point, which could give Bangladesh the edge. But firstly 
Bangladesh need to win against all three teams they will face off in this 
year. At the same time, the Tigers should be careful of not losing points for 
slow over rate.

WTC points system

A team gets 12 points for winning a match, four for a draw and six for a tie. 
Teams will be ranked on percentage of points won. (12 points for a win means 
100 percentage points, for tie (6 points) it is 50 percentage points and for 
draw (4 points) it is 33.3 percentage points. For loss, there is no point.