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| January 11, 2007 | Thursday | Zilhaj 20, 1427 |
Pakistan may leap-frog to second spot
MUMBAI, Jan 10: Pakistan can move into second place in the ICC Test Championship for the first time ever if it beats South Africa by two clear matches in the upcoming series that gets underway at Centurion on Thursday.
If Inzamam-ul-Haq’s side defeats the Proteas 2-0 or 3-0 in the three-match series, it will move above England and secure its highest-ever placing since the LG ICC Test Championship was launched in May 2001.
It has been a steady improvement for the Pakistan Test side. In mid-2003 the team languished in eighth place, ahead of Zimbabwe and Bangladesh, but it has gradually made its way up the ladder since then, and if it passes England it will have just Australia ahead of it.
That is going to be easier said that done, however. South Africa has shown some good form so far this summer and is never an easy side to beat, particularly at home. Although currently ranked sixth, the Proteas side will overtake Sri Lanka into fifth if it wins the series by two Tests or more.
By beating India 2-1 in its latest series, South Africa is already on an upward curve and it will be keen to keep that run of form going against Pakistan.
There is plenty to play for from an individual point of view as well. South Africans Ashwell Prince, Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis all have a good opportunity to move up within the top 20 of the Player Rankings for Test batsmen.
Having just climbed ten places to 18th position following a fine performance in the third Test against India at Cape Town, Smith is now only seven ratings points behind England’s Ian Bell and ten behind New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming.
Prince can catch England opener Andrew Strauss in 13th spot while Kallis can put pressure on Younis Khan inside the top ten.
For his part, Younis will be doing his best to make sure that does not happen and has eighth-placed West Indies captain Brian Lara in his sights.
With Mohammed Yousuf expected to be out of the first two Tests, the top spot of Australia captain Ricky Ponting in the Player Rankings for Test batsmen is secure for now.—Agencies
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