Pakistan moves up to third in ICC team rankings

Dubai, Dec 11 (UNI) Pakistan's domination over the West Indies in the ongoing home series has pushed them up to the third place while Bangladesh batsman Shahriar Nafees finds place among top 20 batsmen in the latest ICC ODI rankings released today.

Pakistan and New Zealand are tied on 113 points but the former is placed higher when ratings are re-calculated to three decimal places. With two matches left in the current ODI series against the West Indies, Inzamam's side might be able to close the gap on South Africa in second position while Australia remains on top.

Currently involved in a Test series with Sri Lanka, New Zealand will also get the chance to respond to Pakistan's challenge when it plays five ODIs against Mahela Jayawardene's side, starting on December 28 in Napier, and then a long tri-series with Australia and England in the New Year.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh's series victory over Zimbabwe at home has helped it open up a significant gap between itself and Zimbabwe.

Bangladesh began the series just four rating points clear of its nearest rivals. But, the 5-0 thrashing has seen it gain seven points while Zimbabwe has lost seven which means there is now 18 rating points between the two sides in ninth and tenth places respectively.

The West Indies has lost three ratings points but remains seventh overall with India sixth and Sri Lanka fifth.

Bangladesh players have also made a big impact in the ICC Player Rankings following the Zimbabwe series.

Abdur Razzaq and Mashrafe Mortaza move into top 20 list of bowlers headed by Shaun Pollock. Razzak moved up 14 places to 12th position after the the 24-year-old slow left-arm bowler took 12 wickets at an average of 13.25, with an economy rate of 3.24 and a strike-rate better than a wicket every 25 balls.

Mortaza also had a good series and has moved up 11 places to 16th spot. The 23-year-old right-arm seamer took 11 wickets during the series at an average of 15.18.

Batsman Shahriar Nafees, who averaged 68.50 with a top score of 105 not out at Khulna, moved into top 20 for the first time in his career.

The 20-year-old left-handed opener is now averaging 40.90 having played a total of 33 ODIs for his country. He also requires only 27 runs to reach 1000 ODI runs in the calendar year.

Only four players -- Kumar Sangakkara, Chris Gayle, Mahela Jayawardene and Sanath Jayasuriya -- have so far achieved that feat.

Nafees is now ranked 19th, well ahead of Indian maestro Sachin Tendulkar and Jacques Kallis and not far behind Mahela Jayawardene and Rahul Dravid.

Pakistan captain Inzamam, who hit a crucial unbeaten 42 to his side's two wicket win at Faisalabad last week in his return from suspension, moved up three places to 15th position.

West Indies all-rounder Chris Gayle has slipped down four places to 27th in the bowling rankings and one place to second in the all-rounder category but retains his place as the second ranked ODI batsman. With Gayle slipping, South Africa stalwart Shaun Pollock claims top spot for all-rounders, while also keeping his place atop the bowling rankings.

Australia's Mike Hussey is still in top spot in the ICC Player Rankings for ODI batsmen and there are no movers in the top ten.

LG ICC ODI Championship (Top 10): 1. Australia (131); 2. South Africa (126); 3. Pakistan (113); 4. New Zealand (113); 5. Sri Lanka (108); 6. India (106); 7. West Indies (103); 8. England (99); 9. Bangladesh (41); 10. Zimbabwe (23) LG ICC ODI Batsmen Rankings (Top 10): 1. Mike Hussey, Aus (821); 2. Chris Gayle, WI (795); 3. Kevin Pietersen, Eng (776); 4. Adam Gilchrist, Aus (769); 5. Mahendra Dhoni, Ind (757); 6. Andrew Symonds, Aus (753); 7. Ricky Ponting, Aus (740); 8. Ramnaresh Sarwan, WI (732); 9. Kumar Sangakkara, SL (723); 10. Michael Clarke, Aus (711); LG ICC Bowlers Rankings (Top 10): 1. Shaun Pollock, SA (910); 2. Glenn McGrath, Aus (799); 3. Ian Bradshaw, WI (756); 4. Nathan Bracken, Aus (752); 5. Makhaya Ntini, SA (742); 6. Brett Lee, Aus (741); 7. Shane Bond, NZ (730); 8.

Daniel Vettori, NZ (725); 9. Murali Muralidaran, SL (712); 10.

Chaminda Vaas, SL (706); LG ICC All-rounders Rankings: 1. Shaun Pollock, SA (477); 2. Chris Gayle, WI (465); 3. Sanath Jayasuriya, SL (370); 4. Andrew Flintoff, Eng (365); 5. Andrew Symonds, Aus (337) UNI XC PDS RN1842