Javed Miandad dissatisfied with ICC's ranking system despite Pakistan grabbing top spot

Former Pakistan skipper Javed Miandad has expressed his dissatisfaction at the structure of the official ICC team rankings as he believes it does not provide a true reflection of the performance of the various teams. Despite Pakistan claiming top spot in the ICC Test rankings for the first time since the rankings were introduced in 2003, Miandad wants all the Test playing nations to play an equal number of matches home and away over a two-year period or so before a proper ranking table can be drawn up.

After Sri Lanka thrashed Australia 3-0 at home, India gained top status after their victory in the third Test against West Indies at St Kitts. However, with the fourth Test at the Queen’s Park Oval being washed out, India’s arch-rivals Pakistan climbed to the top spot with a one-point lead after earning a thrilling 2-2 draw in the four-match Test series against England.

Though happy to see his side sit on top of the Test rankings, Miandad feels the system is flawed as the Test playing were not playing an equal number of matches and feels India’s one-week reign at the top could be repeated by other sides in the future.

"The present system is not satisfactory as there is not a proper system to rank a team on the matches it plays on home and away basis," he told PTI. "In the existing system, it is very difficult for a team to maintain its top ranking and positions change quickly. How can a team be judged and ranked at the top unless it plays an equal number of home and away matches."

Miandad felt Pakistan deserve special praise for achieving the No 1 ranking despite being forced to play their home matches in the UAE due to security concerns and credited skipper Misbah-ul-Haq and the national selectors for keeping their faith in the core group of players.

"Pakistan has not been able to play home matches since 2009 and they don't have the advantage of home crowds and home conditions. And to grab the top spot despite these problems is a big achievement," he said. "The good thing is that our selectors and management didn't tinker around with the Test side a lot and there was continuity in selection and this has now brought us positive results in England and made us the number one side."

Misbah led his side from the front with his spirited performances in England including a century in the opening Test of the series at Lord's and Miandad praised the 42-year-old for the manner in which he has been able to bring about a sense of unity in the Pakistan squad which has often gained a notorious reputation for its indiscipline in the past.

"He (Misbah) has kept the side united and fired up especially after the spot-fixing scandal that took place in 2010," Miandad said.