Protea win over Pak threatens India's ICC Test rankings

Lahore, Oct 13 (UNI) South Africa's 1-0 series victory over Pakistan has closed in the gap on India in the latest LG ICC Championship Table.

The Proteas gain three ratings points and that means Graeme Smith's side is now just two points behind both third and fourth placed India and Sri Lanka.

The two sub-continental sides are on 107 rating points, but India is on third when the ratings are calculated to three decimal places.

India will have to draw strength from the series win in England and beat Pakistan when its western neighbours visit the country next month if it has to maintain the third slot in the table.

Meanwhile, Pakistan's series loss to South Africa has seen it drop one place to seventh below New Zealand with Shoaib Malik's side losing three rating points.

Pakistan had been on the same mark as the Black Caps -- 99 points -- in the previous chart but had occupied the higher placing when the ratings were calculated to three decimal places.

Now, however, it trails New Zealand, although it is still well clear of the side directly below it, the West Indies, which lies eighth.

Pakistan's first chance to reverse its slide down the table -- it occupied third position earlier this year -- will come against India.

South Africa's next opportunity to pile the pressure on India and Sri Lanka will come when it hosts New Zealand in a two-match series next month.

Australia still leads the table, 30 rating points ahead of second-placed England.

LG ICC Test Championship: 1. Australia 141; 2. England 111; 3. India 107; 4. Sri Lanka 107; 5. South Africa 105; 6. New Zealand 99; 7. Pakistan 96; 8. West Indies 72; 9. Bangladesh 4 UNI