- Nigeria’s Women Drop to Sixth in Africa After ICC T20I Ranking Shake-Up.
- Inactivity and Missed Tournaments Blamed for Nigeria’s Slide in Global Cricket Standings.
- Kwibuka Tournament Offers Nigeria Women’s Cricket Team a Chance to Regain Momentum.
The Nigeria women’s cricket team ranking has taken a hit, falling from 26th to 29th in the newly released International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s T20I rankings, according to PUNCH Sports Extra.
This decline places Nigeria sixth among African nations, now trailing behind South Africa, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Namibia, and Tanzania in the continental standings.
Reasons for the Ranking Decline
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The dip in Nigeria’s standing is largely due to a lack of recent international activity.
The cancellation of the annual National Women’s Invitational tournament further limited their opportunity to earn ranking points.
Chance to Bounce Back at Kwibuka Tournament
Hope is not lost for the team as they are set to compete in the Kwibuka Memorial tournament later this month in Rwanda.
The competition provides a chance to recover lost ground in the Nigeria women’s cricket team ranking and re-establish themselves among Africa’s top-performing teams.
Global Women’s T20I Rankings Update
- Australia Widens the Gap
Australia continues to dominate the global rankings, extending its lead over second-placed England from 18 to 20 points following the ICC’s annual update.
- Stability at the Top
No changes occurred among the top eight women’s teams globally.
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However, Thailand made a notable move by overtaking Scotland and Papua New Guinea to secure the 11th spot.
Also Read: Nigeria U-17 Women’s National Team Earns N6m Reward After Dominant 4-0 Win Over Algeria
Highlights from the World Cup and Series Performances
- Australia’s Dominance Despite World Cup Exit
Despite not making the final of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 in Dubai, Australia gained two points, reaching 299, thanks to emphatic 3-0 series sweeps over New Zealand and England.
- Other Top Performers
India remains third with 260 points.
New Zealand, the tournament champions, moved up to 253 points.
South Africa, the runners-up, climbed to 243 points.
Emerging Teams Show Promise
Sierra Leone and Kuwait made the biggest jumps in the rankings, each gaining seven points and moving up three places to 34th and 46th, respectively.
Nigeria Men’s Cricket Team Status
While the focus remains on the women’s side, the Nigeria men’s cricket team has held steady at 36th globally, making it the seventh-best team in Africa.
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