DHONI STILL AT FOURTH PLACE, DESPITE HIS UNBEATEN 139 IN THE AFRO-ASIA CUP FINAL

Despite his unbeaten 139 in the Afro-Asia Cup final in Chennai, Indian wicket-keeper batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni remained in the fourth place in the latest LG-ICC Player Rankings for ODI batsmen.

Dhoni, who hit the highest-ever ODI score by a number seven batsman in Chennai, now trails third-placed Michael Hussey of Australia by 10 rating points. England's Kevin Pietersen still occupies top batting spot with Australia captain Ricky Ponting in second place.

Sri Lanka opening batsman Sanath Jayasuriya's slide in the rankings since the ICC Cricket World Cup continues as he has dropped six places and is now ranked 13th overall. Jayasuriya's loss means Australia's Andrew Symonds has moved into the top 10.

HARD LUCK FOR ZEDS: The left-arm pacer suffers an injury, may not be taken for the ODI series against South Africa and Ireland

India's pace spearhead Zaheer Khan is unlikely to make it to the squad for the upcoming ODI series against South Africa in Ireland due to a hip strain. The left-arm pacer suffered the injury while bowling in the second one-dayer of the Afro-Asia Cup in Chennai on Saturday. He bowled only 2.4 overs for the hosts before going off the field. The extent of Zaheer's injury and how long he would be out of action was to be ascertained yet. India were to play three one-day internationals against South Africa in Ireland between June 26 and July 1. They then take on Pakistan in a one-off ODI in Glasgow, Scotland, on July 3.

Dhoni moves up to 4th in ODI rankings

Team India stumper Mahendra Singh Dhoni gained a spot to be fourth in the latest LG-ICC Player Rankings for ODI batsmen, released today. Dhoni, who was the man of the series in the one-day international series against Bangladesh, has a chance to move up to third if he continues his fine form during the Afro-Asia Cup in Bangalore and Chennai starting tomorrow. The 25-year-old is just five rating points behind Australia's Mike Hussey and, if he continues with his good form over the next week, he will close the gap on Kevin Pietersen and Ricky Ponting at the top of the log. Skipper Rahul Dravid also moved up one place to be 15th, just one point behind South African batsman Herschelle Gibbs.
In the bowlers' chart, off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, despite being out of action after being dropped for the tour of Bangladesh has cilmbed up one spot to share the 13th position with England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff and Sri Lankan pacer Lasith Malinga. The only other Indian in the bowling top-20 is Ajit Agarkar, who occupies the 16th spot. Shaun Pollock continues to lead the pack and is set to play in the Afro-Asian Cup as a specialist batsman following minor foot surgery. PTI