ISLAMABAD - Pakistan will jump to the number-one position on the ICC Twenty-20 Team Rankings if they win the two-match series against Sri Lanka when starting on Wednesday at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Sri Lanka who will defend their number-one ranking on the T20 Team Rankings have remained in the number-one position since October 8, 2012 following the ICC World T20 2012, where they reached the final. They lead fourth-ranked Pakistan by eight ratings points, says a press release issued here.
However, this will change if Pakistan manage to win both T20s. If Pakistan win the series 2-0, then Pakistan side will earn four ratings points while the Sri Lankan side will drop six ratings points. This swing will mean Pakistan will jump to the number-one position on 125 ratings points and Sri Lanka will join India and South Africa on 123 ratings points, but will be ranked above those sides when the ratings are calculated beyond the decimal point.
If the series result is reversed, then Sri Lanka will retain the number-one spot, and move to 133 ratings points while Pakistan will drop behind the West Indies into fifth position on 118 ratings points. If the series ends in a one-all draw, Sri Lanka will finish in the number-one spot on 128 ratings points and Pakistan will stay in fourth position on 121 ratings points.
Meanwhile, only two batsmen from either side feature in the top 20 of the ICC Player Rankings for T20 Batsmen. These are Tillakaratne Dilshan (12th), Kumar Sangakkara (16th) (both Sri Lanka), M Hafeez (19th) and Umar Akmal (20th) (both Pakistan).
Pakistan and Sri Lanka bowlers dominate the ICC Player Rankings for T20 Bowlers with Saeed Ajmal second, Ajantha Mendis third and Hafeez fourth. Outside the top 10 are Nuwan Kulasekara (11th), Shahid Afridi (12th), Angelo Mathews (18th) and Lasith Malinga (19th). Sohail Tanvir is in 26th position and will be aiming to break into the top 20.
Hafeez in second position is the highest-ranked player on the ICC Player Rankings for T20I All-rounders while Afridi is in fifth position. Hafeez trails Australia’s Shane Watson by 10 ratings points and can potentially top the rankings if he performs well with both bat and ball.