India could be dislodged from the top position in theICC one-day rankings by South Africa if the Proteas manage to whitewashPakistan in a five-match home series starting on Sunday.
South Africa are currently fourth but can leapfrog India,England and Australia if they win all five matches of the series.
If the Proteas achieve this series result, then the side willwin the ODI Shield as well as USD 175,000 as the top three sides have no ODIsscheduled before the April 1 cut-off date and South Africa's position will beassured.
South Africa have previously won the ODI Shield twice, firstlywhen it finished as the number-one ranked ODI side in 2008 and then again in2009.
If South Africa win the series 4-1, then they will move aheadof England into second position and will collect a cheque of USD 75,000 tocompliment the prestigious mace and USD 450,000 which they have already won bysealing the number-one position on the Test Championship table.
In contrast, sixth-ranked Pakistan can move to as high as fourth.But for this to happen, they will have to win all five ODIs of the series.
If Pakistan blank out South Africa, then they will jump from107 ratings points to 114 ratings points, while South Africa will drop 10ratings points and plummet to 102 ratings points.
If Pakistan beat South Africa 3-2, then both sides will belocked at 109 ratings points, but South Africa will be ranked above when theratings are calculated beyond the decimal point.
This ODI series is a precursor to the clash between the twosides in the ICC Champions Trophy, which will be staged from June 6 to 23 inEngland and Wales.
South Africa won the inaugural edition in 1998, and are drawnin Group B of the tournament, alongside 2004 champions West Indies, 2002co-winners India and Pakistan.
South Africa and Pakistan will meet on June 10 in a day-nightmatch at Edgbaston in Birmingham during the group stage of the ICC ChampionsTrophy 2013.
Group A of the ICC Champions Trophy 2013 includes defendingchampions Australia, 2000 champions New Zealand and 2002 co-winners Sri Lanka,along with hosts England, who reached the final when they last staged the eventin 2004.
The tournament opener at the ICC Champions Trophy will featuretwo former winners, when South Africa take on India at Cardiff on June 6. Thefollowing day, West Indies will face Pakistan at The Oval.
The semi-finals of the ICC Champions Trophy 2013 will be stagedat The Oval (June 19) and in Cardiff (June 20), while Edgbaston will be thevenue of the final, to be played on June 23.