South Africa can become ODI No.1

Dubai, March 8 (IANS): South Africa enters the five-match One-Day International (ODI) series against Pakistan at Bloemfontein Sunday with an opportunity to reclaim the No.1 ranking in the ICC ODI Championship Table.

South Africa is currently at fourth but can leapfrog India, England and Australia if it wins all five matches of the series. If the Proteas achieve this series result, then the side will win the ODI Shield as well as $175,000 as the top three sides have no ODIs scheduled before the April 1 cut-off.

South Africa has previously won the ODI Shield twice in 2008 and 2009.

If South Africa wins the series 4-1, then it will move ahead of England into second position and will collect a cheque of $75,000 to compliment the prestigious mace and $450,000 which it has already won by sealing the No.1 position in the ICC Test rankings.

In contrast, sixth-ranked Pakistan can move to as high as fourth. But for this to happen, they will have to win all five ODIs of the series. If Pakistan blanks out South Africa, then it will jump from 107 ratings points to 114 while South Africa will drop 10 ratings points and plummet to 102.

If Pakistan beats South Africa 3-2 then both sides will be locked at 109 ratings points but South Africa will be ranked above Pakistan when the ratings are calculated beyond the decimal point.