Pakistan can inch closer towards second spot in Test rankings if drub Kiwis 3-0 in series

Pakistan Test team, which is ranked at the third place, has a chance to reduce the gap further on second-ranked Australia in the Reliance ICC Test Team Rankings when it faces New Zealand in the three-Test series, starting at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.

A 3-0 series win over New Zealand would earn Misbah-ul-Haq's side five ratings points, thus reducing Australia's lead to seven points, where as a 2-0 win for the hosts would see them reduce the deficit to nine points, while a 1-0 victory would see Pakistan gain a solitary ratings point.

If the series ends in a draw Pakistan would swap positions with England, while New Zealand would improve its rankings point by one.

In contrast, a one-nil victory for seventh-placed New Zealand would see them leapfrog India into sixth position with Pakistan dropping to fifth position, while a 2-0 win would push New Zealand into fifth place with Pakistan slipping to sixth spot.

However, South Africa's current seven-point lead at the summit would not be affected. But the top of the table could see movement when South Africa welcome West Indies in a three-Test series, and India travels Down Under to face Australia in a four-Test series, next month.

Reliance ICC Test Team Rankings as on 8 November, before the start of Pakistan-New Zealand Test series are:

1. South Africa

2. Australia

3. Pakistan

4. England

5. Sri Lanka

6. India

7. New Zealand

8. West Indies

9. Zimbabwe

10.