Pakistan can reportedly move ahead if South Africa on the ICC ODI Team Rankings if they win the upcoming five-game series against South Africa, beginning in Sharjah on Wednesday, by 3-2 or better.
Pakistan, which is currently sitting in sixth position and four ratings points behind South Africa, can swap place with the African side and move into fifth position on 103 ratings points if they win the ODI series 3-2.
According to the Daily Times, in contrast, South Africa will move to 107 ratings points if they win the series 4-1 and will narrow the gap with England and Sri Lanka to just four ratings points, adding that the gap will be trimmed to just one rating point if South Africa sweep the series against Pakistan.
The ODI series against Pakistan offers South African vice-captain AB de Villiers an opportunity to overtake Hashim Amla at the top of the ICC Player Rankings for ODI Batsmen, thereby regaining the number-one rank, the report added.