There can be a healthy competition for the numero uno spot in the MRF Tyres ICC ODI Team Rankings as South Africa can replace India if they clean sweep Bangladesh in the upcoming 3-match ODI series.
Earlier this month, India displaced South Africa with a 4-1 victory over Australia in a home series and are one point ahead at 120 points. But the Proteas will go ahead of India on decimal points with a 2-0 lead in the series and could reach 121 points with a 3-0 clean sweep.
However, they can only remain at the top if India loses the three-match series opener against New Zealand which will be played the same day as the last South Africa-Bangladesh match – on 22 October.
If India wins that match, they will also reach the 121 points mark but ahead on decimal point calculation. However, India will have to go on clean sweep New Zealand 3-0 to retain the No.1 position as anything less will see South Africa regain the position if they win the series against Bangladesh 3-0.
Meanwhile, Champions Trophy winners Pakistan will be looking to strengthen their sixth position on the table. They presently have 95 points, nine more than Sri Lanka, and can go up to 99 points with a 5-0 win.
On the other hand, Sri Lanka has a mountain to climb if they hope to overtake Pakistan like they did in the Test rankings during a previous series. Sri Lanka became the last side to ensure a direct qualification berth for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, will have to defeat Pakistan 5-0 to move ahead of them.
South Africa v Bangladesh series scenarios:
• South Africa beats Bangladesh 3-0 – South Africa 121, Bangladesh 92
• South Africa beats Bangladesh 2-1 – South Africa 119, Bangladesh 95
• Bangladesh beats South Africa 2-1 – South Africa 117, Bangladesh 97
• Bangladesh beats South Africa 3-0 – South Africa 115, Bangladesh 100
Pakistan v Sri Lanka series scenarios:
• Pakistan beats Sri Lanka 5-0 – Pakistan 99 Sri Lanka 83
• Pakistan beats Sri Lanka 4-1 – Pakistan 97, Sri Lanka 85
• Pakistan beats Sri Lanka 3-2 – Pakistan 95, Sri Lanka 86
• Sri Lanka beats Pakistan 3-2 – Pakistan 93, Sri Lanka 88
• Sri Lanka beats Pakistan 4-1 – Pakistan 91, Sri Lanka 89
• Sri Lanka beats Pakistan 5-0 – Sri Lanka 91, Pakistan 89
