Despite no active international test cricket, India slips to no. 2 in WTC standings
Dubai: India on Thursday slipped to the second position in the standings of the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) after the ICC decided to rank teams "in order of percentage of points earned" from the contested matches.
Australia (296 points from 3 series) toppled India (360 points from 4 series) in the standing after the revision with a percentage of 82.22 compared to the latter's 75 percent.
With the global COVID-19 pandemic disrupting cricket, "just under half of the World Test Championship matches have been played, with that estimated to rise to more than 85% by the end of the competition window."
According to current regulations, incomplete matches are treated as a draw but after due deliberation, the ICC Cricket Committee, headed by Anil Kumble, recommended that the final WTC standings should be determined on the basis of matches played, which was approved by the Board.
"Both the Cricket Committee and Chief Executives Committee supported the approach of ranking teams based on completed matches and points earned as this reflects their performance and doesn't disadvantage teams that have been unable to complete all of their matches through no fault of their own," ICC Chief Executive Manu Sawhney said.
"We explored a whole range of options, but our members felt strongly that we should proceed as planned with the first-ever World Test Championship Final in June next year."
The Board also approved the introduction of an Excluded Persons Policy as part of the ICC Anti-Corruption Code with immediate effect.
The policy enables the ICC ACU to exclude corruptors who are 'non-participants' to the Code to prevent people who attempt to corrupt the sport from involvement in the game.
It will also make it an offense for 'participants' to the Code to associate with excluded non-participants.
"This is a significant addition to the ICC Anti-Corruption Code and enables the sport to impose an exclusion order on known corruptors preventing them from any involvement in cricket activities including playing, administration, financing, attendance or any kind of involvement in a league, team or franchise," Sawhney said.
"It will allow our ACU to better disrupt the activities of non-participant corruptors which currently the ICC have little if any, control over. This is crucial if we are to continue to protect the integrity of our sport."
The Board also introduced a minimum age restriction of 15 years for international cricket "to improve safeguarding of players which will apply across all cricket including ICC events, bilateral cricket, and U19 cricket."
"To play in any form of men's, women's, or U19 international cricket players must now be a minimum age of 15."
However, a Member Board can apply to the ICC to allow a player under the age of 15 to play for them in exceptional circumstances.
"This could include where the player's playing experience and mental development and wellbeing demonstrates that they would be capable of coping with the demands of international cricket."
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
'Group of girls playing prank': University on viral video of girl carted around hostel in suitcase
Chandigarh, Apr 13 (PTI): A day after a viral video showed a girl emerging out of a suitcase being carted around on a hostel campus, the private university concerned in Haryana has said it was just a "prank" being played "within the girls' hostel" by some students.
The Sonipat-based university, however, said they have taken the matter seriously and showcaused the students involved, asking them to appear before the disciplinary committee.
Safety and security of students are paramount, a university spokesperson said on Sunday, asserting "we have taken effective and immediate action in this matter".
A video clip from the O P Jindal Global University hostel on Friday showed two female security personnel opening the suitcase and the girl coming out if it. The spooky video was shared widely on social media.
With the clip generating all sorts of social media chatter and theories, the university spokesperson issued a statement on Sunday, saying it just showed a group of girls playing a prank on their friend within their hostel.
They were carting her around in a suitcase and took her outside to the grounds and upstairs, he said. They moved to a public area inside the girls hostel common corridor which is under the CCTV coverage which is when the security guards noticed suspicious activity around the suitcase, he said.
The university has taken effective and immediate action in the incident.
"This incident involved a group of students playing a prank within the girls' hostel, which unfortunately escalated to a public area where security intervened," the spokesperson said.
"All students involved have been issued showcause notices and will face the disciplinary committee. As India's leading institution, O P Jindal Global University takes student security very seriously," the spokesperson said.
Guy tried Sneaking his Girlfriend into the Boys hostel in a Suitcase.. one Bump and she screamed from inside. guards Heard it and they got Caught, Op Jindal Uni
— Ghar Ke Kalesh (@gharkekalesh) April 12, 2025
pic.twitter.com/xBkBTYymdt
