Dubai, Nov 20 (IANS): Bangladesh and Zimbabwe have the opportunity to gain vital rankings points when they go head-to-head in a five-match One-Day International (ODI) series starting Friday in Chittagong.

Ninth-placed Bangladesh (69) currently hold an 11-point lead over the Elton Chigumbura-led side in the International Cricket Council (ICC) team rankings and can further increase their lead while also reducing the gap with New Zealand and the West Indies, both level on 96 points, according to an ICC release Thursday.

If Bangladesh manage a whitewash, they will open up a 22-point gap over Zimbabwe, while a 4-1 victory would lead to a gap of 17 points. A 3-2 series win would see the hosts retain a nine-point advantage.

Zimbabwe will also be eyeing a move up the rankings, as a 5-0 series win would see them leapfrog Bangladesh into the ninth position, six points clear. If they win the series 4-1, the two sides would be level on 63 points, with the host holding a fractional advantage. A 3-2 win for Zimbabwe would reduce Bangladesh’s lead to six points.

In the batting rankings, Zimbabwe’s Brendan Taylor is the highest-ranked batsman on the eve of the series. The 28-year-old all-rounder lies in the 31st place and he will be looking to gain ground on England’s Joe Root who is one place ahead of him. The next best-ranked Zimbabwe batsmen are Hamilton Masakadza (48th) and Sean Williams (49th). For Bangladesh, Shakib Al Hasan (33rd), Tamim Iqbal (37th) and Mushfiqur Rahim (40th) are the top-ranked batsmen.

In the bowlers' rankings, Shakib is the top-ranked bowler (21st) on either side and the left arm spinner needs six points to get into top-20. Zimbabawe’s highest-ranked bowler is Tendai Chatara (60th) who will be looking to build on his recent performances in the triangular series against South Africa and Australia where he captured five wickets.

The 27-year-old Shakib is also the highest-ranked player on the rankings for all-rounders, in third place.