India need clean slate and Pak favour to top ODI chart

Dubai:

Currently the number one Test team, India can become the top ODI side as well provided they win all their tri-series matches in Bangladesh and Pakistan comprehensively beat Australia in the forthcoming five-match contest Down Under.

India, which is already in possession of the coveted mace for being the number one-ranked Test side, figure second in the ICC ODI ranking with 123 points, while Australia top the list with 130 points.

But India has the opportunity to topple Australia from the top spot and for that to happen Dhoni's men will have to defeat both Sri Lanka and hosts Bangladesh in the tri-series commencing in Mirpur on Monday and then hope that Pakistan beat the Aussies comprehensively in the five-ODI series beginning January 22.

A 4-1 or worse series result for Ricky Ponting's team would knock them off the top spot in favour of India.