@ColinTheMathmo (a) All players named in the squad for the tournament are "top" from the rules point. But a team cannot *deliberately* select "weaker" players and *claim* to rest others. The deliberate part makes it a violation.
(b) "Giving the appearance of trying their best while not actually doing so" is also a violation. Though done to lose, such conduct is as bad as doctoring the ball or juicing the bat to win.
I understand your Game Theory point. Just that it doesn't apply to #Cricket.