Battle for ICC T20I top spots as Australia face off Pakistan

After slipping from the International Cricket Council (ICC) Test team rankings, Australia have another chance to make a comeback and attain the top position in the T20I team rankings when they will face Pakistan in the upcoming three-match series.

The mission though would not be an easy one as Australia will require a 3-0 series sweep to register themselves at the top spot and become the eighth side to attain the uppermost position after England, India, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and West Indies.

Australia, who scored an easy seven-wicket win over the United Arab Emirates (UAE) earlier on Monday, are presently placed at the third spot with 123 points, just one point behind India, while Pakistan are perched at 132 points. A series sweep will take them to 130 points and bring Pakistan down to 127 points. This would bring Australia ahead of India to the second position with a 2-1 series win.

On the other hand, Pakistan need to win just one of the three upcoming matches to remain at the top place.

Australian skipper Aaron Finch leads the list of batsmen in the ICC Men's T20I Player Rankings with Pakistan's Fakhar Zaman aiming to bridge the 49-point gap.

Glenn Maxwell, the top-ranked all-rounder, would also be looking to improve his ranking among the batsmen as he is currently at the sixth place with 761 points, only four behind Babar Azam of the opposing side.

In the bowlers' list, Pakistan leg-spinner Shadab Khan would get a chance to bridge the gap to Afghanistan's Rashid Khan, who is the top-ranked bowler. Australia's Andrew Tye also has a chance to move up from his current sixth position.

Australia and Pakistan are scheduled to face each other in a three-match T20I series from October 24 to 28.

-ANI