Ajmal shoots up the rankings (From Asian Image)

Ajmal shoots up the rankings

9:56am Monday 30th January 2012 in Sport

Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal has moved up to second in the International Cricket Council Test bowler rankings after his match-winning performances against England in Abu Dhabi.

Saeed followed up his 10 for 97 in Dubai with seven for 130 in Abu Dhabi as Pakistan took a winning 2-0 lead in the series.

Saeed knocked England's James Anderson down to third but South Africa's Dale Steyn still heads the rankings.

Fellow Pakistan player Abdur Rehman, whose figures of two for 67 and six for 25 in Abu Dhabi won him the man-of-the-match award, rose five places to ninth, having claimed four for 89 in Dubai.

The latest rankings also see England spinner Monty Panesar make a return in 34th position.

England can retain the number one team spot with a win in the final Test against Pakistan which begins in Dubai on Friday.

Defeat or a draw against Pakistan would leave the way open for South Africa to return to the number one spot if they win all three home Tests against New Zealand in March.

If England retain the number one ranking for the April 1 cut-off date they will receive the 175,000 US dollars prize awarded to the side who top the Reliance ICC Test Championship table.