Pakistan and New Zealand fight to join Australia, South Africa and Sri Lanka as ICC Champions Trophy 2004 top seeds

The first two matches of the Pakistan v New Zealand One Day International (ODI) series starting in Lahore on Saturday will determine which of the two sides is seeded along with Australia, South Africa and Sri Lanka in the ICC Champions Trophy 2004.

Sri Lanka's 1-0 series win over England was enough to ensure that it will be either third or fourth in the official ODI ratings on 1 December 2003 - the date from which groupings for the 12-team tournament in England next year will be taken.

This means Sri Lanka (107) will definitely avoid Australia (136) and South Africa (118) when the groups are confirmed at the start of next month.

Pakistan, also on 107, is in pole position to take the fourth remaining top-seeded spot provided it wins at least one of the first two matches in its five match home ODI series against New Zealand (103).

Defeats in both matches would see Pakistan's rating slump to 104 while New Zealand would climb to 107 - enough see the sides swap places by the time the ICC announces the line-up.

If New Zealand loses both opening matches against Pakistan its rating will fall to 100, potentially causing New Zealand to be grouped with Australia for the second successive ICC Champions Trophy.

The chances of West Indies (103) finishing the month as one of the top four ODI sides were dashed when it lost the second ODI to Zimbabwe in Bulawayo on Sunday. The result means that even with victories in the remaining three matches of the series this week, West Indies can only improve its rating to 104.

If Zimbabwe (66) can win the last three matches in Harare it will improve its rating to 75.

West Indies' defeat to Zimbabwe means that England (106) and India (105), both of which have no further ODI matches before 1 December, are almost certain to avoid the top seeds Australia and South Africa.

Matches in the ICC Champions Trophy 2004 will be played at The Oval, Edgbaston and Hampshire's Rose Bowl in England from 10 to 25 September.

The tournament schedule and ticketing arrangements will be made available in early December 2003.

Groupings will be based on ICC ODI Championship standings on 1 December 2003 as follows:

ICC One Day International Championship correct on 24 November 2003

Full predictions on potential outcomes of forthcoming ODI matches are available on the ICC website, www.icc.cricket.org

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