World champions Sri Lanka need a win in New Zealand to retain T20 number-one ranking

New Delhi: World Twenty20 champions Sri Lanka need a win to retain the ICC number-one ranking in the shortest format of the game.

The 2014 ICC World Twenty20 champions takes on host New Zealand in a two-match Twenty20 International series, with the first encounter scheduled on January 7 in Mount Maunganui.

With 125 points, Lankans will need to win at least one match in New Zealand to retain the numero uno spot.

After losing the One-Day International series to the Kiwis, Lankans under Dinesh Chandimal will hope to keep the number-one ranked status intact, specially with the World T20 starting in March.

If Lanka suffered a series whitewash, they will join the West Indies and Australia on 118 points. In such a scenario, the West Indies will top the table ahead of Australia and Sri Lanka when the points are calculated beyond the decimal point.

With a series win, New Zealand currently ranked eighth with 108 points, will rise to seventh, replacing India, on 114 points, and thus reducing the gap with Sri Lanka to just four points.

India are in Australia for a five-match One-Day International and three-match T20I series. And Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men will be keen to get the record straight ahead of World Cup too.

England, South Africa and Pakistan are currently in fourth, fifth and sixth positions respectively.