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India are all set to drop a rung to sixth in the ICC Test rankings, replaced by arch-rivals Pakistan in the fifth position after Misbah-ul-Haq's men took a 1-0 lead in the ongoing series against Australia in Dubai.
"Pakistan's victory in the Dubai Test has not only ensured that it will move ahead of India in fifth position irrespective of how the Abu Dhabi Test ends, it has dashed Australia hopes of regaining the number-one Test ranking," the ICC said in a statement.
To move ahead of South Africa, Australia needed to win both the Tests. Now, their best series result can be a 1-1 draw, which will keep them in second position, three points behind South Africa.
In contrast, if Pakistan win the second Test, then they will leapfrog England, Sri Lanka and India into third position.
A 1-1 draw will mean they will finish in fifth place on 99 ratings points -- three ahead of India and two behind fourth-ranked Sri Lanka, while a drawn Test in Abu Dhabi will see Pakistan move to fourth place.