Dubai: South Africa enters the five-match ODI series against Pakistan at Bloemfontein on Sunday 10 March with an opportunity to reclaim the number-one ranking on the Reliance ICC ODI Championship Table.
South Africa is currently in fourth position but can leapfrog India, England and Australia if it wins all five matches of the series. If the Proteas achieve this series result, then the side will win the ODI Shield as well as US$175,000 as the top three sides have no ODIs scheduled before the 1 April cut-off date and South Africa’s position will be assured.
South Africa has previously won the ODI Shield twice, firstly when it finished as the number-one ranked ODI side in 2008 and then again in 2009.
If South Africa wins the series 4-1, then it will move ahead of England into second position and will collect a cheque of US$75,000 to compliment the prestigious mace and US$450,000 which it has already won by sealing the number-one position on the Reliance ICC Test Championship table.
In contrast, sixth-ranked Pakistan can move to as high as fourth. But for this to happen, it will have to win all five ODIs of the series. If Pakistan blanks out South Africa, then it will jump from 107 ratings points to 114 ratings points, while South Africa will drop 10 ratings points and plummet to 102 ratings points.
If Pakistan beats South Africa 3-2, then both sides will be locked at 109 ratings points, but South Africa will be ranked above Pakistan when the ratings are calculated beyond the decimal point.
To find out exactly how the forthcoming series will affect the Championship Table, please click here. The ODI and T20I Championship tables, unlike the Test Championship Table, are updated after every match.
Build-up to the ICC Champions Trophy
This ODI series is a precursor to the clash between the two sides in the ICC Champions Trophy 2013, which will be staged from 6 to 23 June in England and Wales.
South Africa won the inaugural edition in 1998, and is drawn in Group B of the tournament, alongside 2004 champion West Indies, 2002 co-winner India and Pakistan.
South Africa and Pakistan will meet on 10 June in a day-night match at Edgbaston in Birmingham during the group stage of the ICC Champions Trophy 2013.
Group A of the ICC Champions Trophy 2013 includes defending champion Australia, 2000 champion New Zealand and 2002 co-winner Sri Lanka, along with host England, which reached the final when it last staged the event in 2004.
The tournament opener at the ICC Champions Trophy will feature two former winners, when South Africa takes on India at Cardiff on 6 June. The following day, West Indies will face Pakistan at The Oval.
The semi-finals of the ICC Champions Trophy 2013 will be staged at The Oval (19 June) and in Cardiff (20 June), while Edgbaston will be the venue of the final, to be played on 23 June.