South Africa, who are currently at No. 4 in ICC Test ranking table, has a good chance to climb up to position in the International Cricket Council One-Day International Team Rankings when they host world champions Australia in the five-match series from September 30.
A busy limited-overs schedule starts with Bangladesh and Afghanistan confronting in Bangladesh in a three ODI matches and Bangladesh will later take on England in a five-match ODI series. Meanwhile, a series between South Africa and Australia from September 30 will see a total of 16 matches being played between eight teams to fight for no. 1 ranking with a year to go before the determination of which highest 7 ranked sides along with England will qualify for the Cricket World Cup in 2019.
While Australia and South Africa will aim to consolidate their current positions, Bangladesh, West Indies and Pakistan will target to improve their rankings.
The series of matches start on Sunday with the first of three matches ODI series between Bangladesh and Afghanistan in Mirpur and a none of ODI between South Africa and Ireland in Benoni. Ireland also gets a match against Australia in Benoni on September 27, while Pakistan and West Indies will play a three-match series in the United Arab Emirates from September 30 to October 5. Bangladesh will host England fro three ODIs from October 7 to October 12.
World champion Australia is currently on 124 points and is without an immediate threat to its top ranking with New Zealand on 113 points.
But a series win for South Africa, which is a fraction of a point behind India, against Australia could help it move ahead of the reigning ICC Champions Trophy winner. A 3-2 series win put South Africa in the third position on 122 points, while a 4-2 series win lift it to the second position on 114 points.
For Australia, a 3-2 series win will maintain its current 124 points with a maximum drop of 118 points in the case of a 5-0 series whitewash. Even if they lose a one-off match to Ireland and gets blanked by South Africa, Australia will retain number one position at 116 points with South Africa behind it on decimal points.