PAKISTAN WILL BE SECOND...IF

Series whitewash would put Pakistan second in Test table

Jon Long October 18, 2004

If Pakistan can win both matches of the forthcoming Test series against Sri Lanka, it will climb to second in the ICC Test Championship table.

Pakistan plays Sri Lanka in a two Test series starting at Faisalabad on Wednesday and must win both matches to improve its rating from 105 to 110 and overtake England by one point.

Pakistan will be hoping to put defeat to Sri Lanka in the final of the One-Day International Paktel Trophy behind it to claim its highest ever position in the ICC Test Championship.

Although Australia is the clear leader in the official standings, there are five sides fighting for second spot.

England climbed to second in August but may have relinquished that position to either Pakistan or India (who can climb to 111 with a 2-1 win over Australia) before it takes on South Africa in five Test matches from December.

With a positive outcome in their favour, either England or South Africa could then end their head-to-head series in second place.

Sri Lanka will fall just short of second if it wins this series against Pakistan. A 2-0 win will put Sri Lanka third on 108 points while a 1-0 win will boost its rating to 106.

On Tuesday, New Zealand will begin its first ever Test match against Bangladesh in Dhaka.

New Zealand must win both matches of the two-match series to improve its rating from 94 to 95 points.

If Bangladesh can draw one of the matches it will improve its rating from one point to two points.

Daryl Harper from the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires will stand with Mark Benson from the Emirates International Panel of ICC Umpires in the first Test match between Bangladesh and New Zealand. It will be Englishman Benson's first Test match as an on-field umpire. Alan Hurst from the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Referees will officiate on the series, his first since joining the Emirates Elite Panel.

For full details of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires and Referees officiating on the series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka and Bangladesh and New Zealand, click here

For details of the ICC Test Championship visit the Test cricket page of the ICC website click here