Pakistan knows that it must avoid a 3-0 series defeat against Bangladesh to maintain its seventh place ranking in the [Reliance ICC ODI Team Rankings][1] when the two sides face off in the first of three ODIs, which starts in Mirpur today.

Pakistan currently lies in seventh spot on 95 ratings points and has a chance to reduce England’s six point advantage by one point if it wins the series 3-0. A 2-1 victory would see Azhar Ali’s men remain on 95 points.

Bangladesh knows that it cannot move up the table irrespective of the result, but a 3-0 whitewash in its favour would see it move to 81 points. In that scenario, the West Indies would move level with Pakistan on 92 points, but the men from the Caribbean would hold a slender 0.13 point advantage when the ratings are calculated beyond the decimal point.

A 2-1 win for Bangladesh would see the hosts move up three points to 79. Although Pakistan would retain its seventh place position following that series scoreline, it would drop two points to 93.

Shakib Al Hasan will lead Bangladesh in the first one-dayer in the absence of regular captain Mashrafe Mortaza, who is serving a one-match ban for slow over-rates during the World Cup.

Seasoned all-rounder Shakib saw the upcoming series as Bangladesh's “best chance” to improve his nation's record against the unpredictable Pakistanis.

“I think we should be starting as favourites to win the one-day series,” said Shakib.

For Pakistan, Saeed Ajmal will return to centre stage after almost eight months hoping to strike early form with a remodelled bowling action.

The prolific off-spinner became the most high-profile casualty of the International Cricket Council's crackdown on illegal actions when he was suspended from the game last September.

Opinion

Editorial

Smog hazard
Updated 05 Nov, 2024

Smog hazard

The catastrophe unfolding in Lahore is a product of authorities’ repeated failure to recognise environmental impact of rapid urbanisation.
Monetary policy
05 Nov, 2024

Monetary policy

IN an aggressive move, the State Bank on Monday reduced its key policy rate by a hefty 250bps to 15pc. This is the...
Cultural power
05 Nov, 2024

Cultural power

AS vital modes of communication, art and culture have the power to overcome social and international barriers....
Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.