West Indies, who have 78 points in the ODI team rankings, cannot now overtake Sri Lanka (86 points) ahead of the September 30 cut-off for automatic qualification regardless of how they do in the remaining four games.
Uncapped Evin Lewis has been named to replace the injured Lendl Simmons in the West Indies squad for the World Twenty20 in India. The experienced Simmons was ruled out of the tournament due to a back injury. "The 24-year-old left-handed batsman will join the team ahead of the start of the global event," the West Indies Cricket Board said in a statement. Lewis has represented Trinidad & Tobago in the Caribbean T20 and the Champions League and impressed chairman of selectors Clive Lloyd, who led West Indies to two 50-over World Cup triumphs. "Evin Lewis a young and exciting batsman who we believe he will fit into the team set-up very well. He has the ability to perform at this level of the game," Lloyd said. "His selection is in keeping with our policy to give exposure to young, talented players we believe will help to carry West Indies cricket forward," he added. All-rounder Kieron Pollard was ruled out of the World Twenty20 due to a knee injury, spinner Sunil Narine is still working to fix his illegal bowling and all-rounder Darren Bravo has opted to focus on the longer formats of the game.
'Ghost-like stands repel rather than attract audiences,' observes Ashis Ray.
One shudders to think what could happen if India lose both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli early with such a brittle middle order to follow?
Paceman James Pattinson took five for 27 to fire Australia to a thumping innings and 121-run victory with more than two days to spare in the first Test against West Indies in Hobart on Saturday.
Jason Holder is hoping to lead a very different West Indies side into Friday's World Cup clash against South Africa to that which was crushed 4-1 in a One-Day International series last month.
Besides KL Rahul, another individual who would like to answer his critics with solid performances is Pant.
AB de Villiers confirmed his status as the most destructive batsman in cricket with a magnificent unbeaten 162 from just 66 balls to lead South Africa to a record 257-run victory over West Indies in the World Cup on Friday.
England out for lowest score in Barbados, WI in strong position
Mayank Agarwal, who struck a double century in the first Test against Bangladesh in Indore, jumped one place to 10th with 700 points.
Mumbai Indians lock horns with an out-of-sorts Rajasthan Royals in an IPL match in which home skipper Rohit Sharma's return from injury will also be awaited, in Mumbai, on Saturday.
West Indies have axed two-time World Twenty20 winning captain Darren Sammy and put fellow all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite in charge for two matches against India this month in Florida.
It will be a crucial couple of weeks for Shreyas Iyer and Manish Pandey, who are back in the mix after being sidelined from India's 50-over World Cup plans.
Formidable India will hope to get more answers for their unsettled middle-order puzzle when they take on a reeling West Indies in the five-match ODI series, starting Sunday and ticking off the home team's countdown to the 2019 World Cup.
'They're going to need to get some cricket before coming back into the squad. It's all part of the management. We'll have to wait and see'
Ishant Sharma took five for 42 runs to leave West Indies reeling on 189 for eight in 59 overs at stumps in reply to India's first innings score of 297..
Bhuvneshwar Kumar registered remarkable figures of 2/15 in four overs, including 17 dot balls, in a high-scoring contest which saw over 400 runs being scored.
Former South African skipper AB de Villiers is all set to take part in the upcoming Mzansi Super League.
Game slipped away from us on opening day, says Corey Collymore
For all the glitz and glamour, politically and socially aware emphasis on representation and support for Ukraine, the 94th Annual Academy Awards was largely a bore.
A look at how the teams stack up ahead of the mega auction.
Denied adequate preparation time in India, the West Indies would look to utilise all their resources when they take on Board President's XI
England fast bowler Stuart Broad has defended his team's verbal attack on West Indies batsman Marlon Samuels during their second Test in Grenada.
West Indies coach Phil Simmons was suspended on Monday for appearing to question the selection of his One-Day international squad that will tour Sri Lanka in November.
Adam Voges and Shaun Marsh combined for 449 runs and the sixth highest partnership in Test cricket history to put Australia firmly in control after the second day of the first Test against West Indies on Friday.
Jason Holder insists Andre Russell's fitness is a gamble worth taking, after the all-rounder pulled up with another injury in their eight-wicket defeat by England.
A ruthless India completed a nine-wicket demolition of the West Indies in the fifth and final ODI in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday for their sixth successive series win at home.
Captain Cook also hits form, strikes 125-run opening partnership with Trott -- England's first century opening stand since March 2013.
IMAGES from the match played between Bangladesh and West Indies in their ICC World Cup match in Taunton on Monday
Fast bowler Lungi Ngidi is expected to be sidelined with a knee injury for around 12 weeks, ruling him out of South Africa's home Test series against Pakistan starting next month as he seeks to be regain full fitness for the 2019 World Cup.
Nathan Coulter-Nile slammed 92 from 60 deliveries to register the highest score by a No 8 batsman in a World Cup.
A fine innings of 143 from Ian Bell helped England to recover from a terrible start and finish the first day of the first Test against West Indies on 341 for five in Antigua on Monday.
England captain Eoin Morgan hit 17 sixes in his knock of 148, an ODI record.
IMAGES from the 2nd ODI played between West Indies and India at Port-of-Spain in Trinidad on Sunday
West Indies opener Chris Gayle will miss the limited over series against New Zealand after failing to recover from a hamstring injury, the West Indies Cricket Board said on Friday.
With 871 rating points, Virat Kohli is at the top followed by Rohit (855) and Pakistan's Babar Azam (829).
'We always back him. He has won us so many games'
Maria Sharapova, David Beckham, Christina Hendricks were among the hotsteppers who showed up at the ongoing New York Fashion Week.
A dominant India posted a massive 649 for nine before their bowlers chipped away at the wickets to leave West Indies reeling on 94 for six at stumps on Day 2 of the first Test in Rajkot.
"This will probably be the biggest World Cup, so there will be great expectations and I know we will do very well for the people of the West Indies," he added.
