ABU DHABI, Nov 15: Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik on Saturday said his team will try its level best to complete a 3-0 One-day International series win over the West Indies and jump to fourth position in world rankings.

Pakistan, currently sixth, will leapfrog arch-rivals India (fifth) and New Zealand (fourth) in the ICC (International Cricket Council) one-day rankings if they beat the West Indies in the third and final match here on Sunday.

Pakistan clinched a last over thriller by four wickets on Wednesday and then edged the West Indies by 24 runs in the second match on Friday.

And Malik hoped his team would achieve the clean sweep.

“We will do our best because my aim has always been to improve and come in the world’s top two teams and here is an opportunity for us to do that,” said Malik who is line to have his captaincy extended if the team wins.

Appointed captain after Pakistan’s disastrous first-round exit from the World Cup in the West Indies last year, Malik’s tenure was due to end next month.

However he said he is more concerned about the team winning than his tenure as captain.

“I don’t think on those lines. At the moment we have a task on our hands and that is to win the last match which will give us more confidence for India,” said Malik of the series against Pakistan’s arch-rivals in January.

Malik said fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar is still battling a calf injury which forced him to sit out in the first two matches.

“He [Shoaib Akhtar] is still struggling. Anyone can get injured here because the ground is very soft, so we will look at his fitness before the match,” said Malik.

West Indian coach John Dyson said his team needs to improve its finishing to avoid a clean sweep.

“The first two matches proved that Pakistan is stronger team overall,” said Dyson, a former Australian opener. “We need to improve both in bowling and batting to match Pakistan who are playing very well.

Dyson said the West Indies were winning easily against weaker teams but added that against top sides “we lose easily, so we must convert our chances against teams who are in the middle of the table”.

Dyson said the West Indies, currently number eight, need to bowl in the right areas while batsmen need to rotate strike.

“We are giving too many free hits in the bowling and in the batting our batsmen have the style of play the crowds in the Caribbean love, which is they like to see the ball seen crushed, but in between you have got to pick up singles, like Pakistan are doing.”—AFP