Cuba stays out of the top 10 of the World Baseball and Softball Confederation

Cuba came out of the top ten group for the first time baseball picks of the world, after the World Baseball and Softball Confederation (WBSCreleased its ranking, which includes 84 countries, on Monday.

The new list confirms the free fall of baseball on the Island, which went from dominating the world rankings in 2012 to the 11th place in which it is now placed by WBSC, four less than in its previous ranking, which could mean that it loses the opportunity to participate in the Premier 12 tournament, which brings together the best selections by geographic areas.

The World Confederation rankings measure the performance of national teams from the under 12 to professional categories in official international competitions over a four-year period.

Japan now reigns supreme in the national team, followed by Chinese Taipei, who rose from fourth place; South Korea came third; USA fourth; Mexico fifth and Australia sixth, the latter as the best team in Oceania.

Dominican Republic, which advanced three places, is seventh; Canada ranked eighth, moving up five places, followed by the Netherlands, the highest ranked nation in Europe, and Venezuela in 10th, dropping two spots.

Nicaragua, in 12th place, moved up three places.

The countries of America continue to command in the ranking, after obtaining 11 places from the top 20.

Cuba, eleventh place, came out of the top 10 for the first time since the world rankings were launched in 2009. With a national tournament of less and less quality, its first figures playing in foreign leagues contracted by the Government and the most promising ones escaping from the Island to play on their own in professional leagues, the quality of Cuban baseball hit rock bottom in the Pre-Olympic tournament the Americas last May, where Team Cuba lost for the first time the possibility of qualifying for the Olympic Games.

In that tournament four members of the national team, three players and the psychologist of the team, They decided to escape the control of the island’s authorities.

In addition, the WBSC announced the conformation of the groups attending the tournament in Tokyo and the game schedule. The host, Japan, will face the winner of the WBSC Baseball Final Qualifier, Dominican Republic, in the opening game on July 28.

The Japanese and Dominican teams will play the preliminary round with Mexico in key A. In key B, South Korea, the United States and Israel will face each other.

“The Tokyo 2020 Olympic baseball tournament, which will feature the highest ranked nations and their players, will be by far the most competitive and attractive in Olympic history,” said WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari.

“Winning the gold medal will be an exciting and unpredictable challenge, where either team can beat the other. This is one of the strengths of the sport of baseball and also highlights the growth and evolution of our global game,” he stressed.