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Azhar, Srinath sixth in Pepsi world cricket ratings

Captain Mohammed Azharuddin (5,693 points), stayed put in the sixth place in the Pepsi world cricket ratings.

Three other Indians met the qualifying criteria of 450 runs in one-dayers during the current season -- eleventh-placed Saurav Ganguly (4,926 points), 17th ranked Rahul Dravid (4,111 points) and 18th placed Sachin Tendulkar (4,012 points).

India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka all have four men in the elite group, followed by two each from Australia, South Africa and Zimbabwe. One West Indian and one New Zealander complete the top-20 list.

Sri Lankan opener Sanath Jayasuriya kept his top spot but Pakistan's off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq was relegated to the second spot in the bowling standings by South African paceman Allan Donald.

Jayasuriya (7,718 points) and West Indian Stuart williams (7,666 points) retained the first and second position in the batting standings. Australian opener Ricky Pointing's fine form saw him surge to the third place with 6,923 points after being absent from the top ranked batsmen in December.

Sri Lanka and India head the country-wise break-up of bowlers with five men from either nation figuring in the bowling list. Three South Africans, two Pakistanis and one bowler each from Zimbabwe and New Zealand round off the select list.

Pace bowler Javagal Srinath, returning to international cricket after a long gap, is placed sixth with 8,012 points. Other Indian bowlers are seventh-ranked Saurav Ganguly (7,579 points), eight-placed Debashish Mohanty (7,547 points), 11th ranked Robin Singh (7,377 points), and 14th placed Abey Kuruvilla (6,877 points).

Donald (8,483 points) shot to the top of the bowling standings after falling to make the grade in December. He now head the list of bowlers who have taken 18 wickets in one-day internationals during the current season. Saqlain, who topped the standings two months ago, is now in the second spot with 8,424 points.

Paul Strang, the lone Zimbabwe bowler in the list of 17 men to meet the qualifying mark, is placed third with 8,131 points, followed by fourth-placed Chaminda Vaas (8,108 points) and fifth-positioned Shaun Pollock (8,052 points).

UNI