Asif set to equal Pakistan record by taking just nine matches to get into top 10 of LG ICC Player Rankings

Mohammed Asif is on the brink of becoming only the third Pakistan bowler in history to make it into the top 10 of the LG ICC Player Rankings for Test bowlers after just nine matches.

If the 24-year-old has a good game in the third and final Test of the current series with South Africa in Cape Town and makes it past Corey Collymore of the West Indies in tenth place, he will equal the record currently held jointly by pace legend Waqar Younis and left-arm spinner Pervez Sajjad, who won his 19 Test caps for Pakistan in the 1960s and early '70s.

When one thinks of the great bowlers produced by the country over the years, such as Imran Khan, Abdul Qadir, Wasim Akram and Sarfraz Narwaz, it will be a fine achievement if Asif manages to do it. It took those bowlers more than 15 matches each to get into the top 10 of the LG ICC Player Rankings for Test bowlers.

Following a fine match in the second Test, where he took seven wickets, including 5-76 in the second innings, Asif moved up eight places to 11th spot past such bowlers as Australian Brett Lee and Chaminda Vaas of Sri Lanka. So far in seven Tests, Asif has taken 37 wickets at an average of 21.08.

South Africa has a pretty fearsome attack too, however. Shaun Pollock has moved up one place to third position, back in the top three for the first time since April 2005. He is one place behind team-mate Makhaya Ntini, who in turn trails leader Muttiah Muralidaran.

Unfortunately for another South African, Andre Nel has slipped out of the top 20, also for the first time since April 2005.

Meanwhile, Younis Khan has moved up three places to sixth position in the LG ICC Player Rankings for Test batsmen following his heroics in the second Test at Port Elizabeth.

In an enthralling Test match Younis made a vital 67 not out in the second innings to go with his 45 in the first and saw his side to victory by five wickets.

Wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal, who shared an unbeaten 99-run stand in that match with Younis, has also had a good showing the latest rankings. He has moved up seven places to 34th.

Indeed, it was a good match for wicketkeeper-batsmen as South Africa's Mark Boucher is also up seven places to 44th. It is the first time for three years that Boucher has made it into the top 50, indicating that he is playing as well as he ever did.

There is no movement within the top five as Australia captain Ricky Ponting still leads the way, from Pakistan's Mohmmad Yousuf in second and Kevin Pietersen of England third.

Equally, the top five positions in the LG ICC Player Rankings for Test all-rounders remain the same with Jacques Kallis on top for South Africa. He is followed closely in second place by Andrew Flintoff with Pollock in third.

South Africa can join level with Sri Lanka in fifth place of the LG ICC Test Championship if it beats Pakistan in the final Test. A 2-1 series win for Graeme Smith's side will give it four ratings points, putting it level with Sri Lanka on 102.

If third-placed Pakistan wins the match, which begins in Cape Town on 26 January, it will gain one ratings point, putting it just a single point behind England.

Remaining fixture:
26 Jan -South Africa v Pakistan (third Test), Cape Town

For more information about how the LG ICC Player Rankings are devised and maintained go href="https://www.lgiccrankings.com/icc_php/about-rankings.php: