Sports Desk:

Following the ICC’s annual update the Bangladesh women’s cricket team was eclipsed by Ireland in the ICC Women’s T20I team rankings.

Bangladesh, with 192 rating points, slipped one spot and are now 10th in the rankings while their Irish counterparts have replaced the at eighth position with 194 points.

Meanwhile, Australia maintained their stronghold on the No.1 ranking with 299 rating points and even extended their lead over second-placed England (279) from 18 points to 20 after the update.

While there are no positional changes among the top-eight ranks, reigning ICC Women’s T20 World Cup winners New Zealand were rewarded with a two-point increase to 253 rating points and are now within seven points of third-placed India (260).

South Africa (243), West Indies (240), Sri Lanka (228) and Pakistan (220) round out the top eight teams on the rankings.

The update provided weightings at 50 percent for matches between May 2022 and April 2024 and 100 percent for matches thereafter.

Out of the top 10, Asian side Thailand climb two places to move to 11th, while Sierra Leone (34th) and Kuwait (37th) are other big improvers as they gain seven rating points and move up three spots overall apiece.