Pakistan lost its position as the No. 1 ODI team in the ICC Rankings to Australia on Sunday, May 7. With 113 rating points right now, the five-time World Cup winners surpass the 1992 World Cup victories by one. The change occurred on the same day that New Zealand defeated Pakistan by 47 runs to avoid a 0-5 series sweep in the five-match ODIs.
Barbara Azam and Co. rose to No. 1 on Friday, May 5, as they defeated the Blackcaps in game 4 of the five-match series, winning by 102 runs. Pakistan is now ranked third behind Australia and India. Both have the same number of rating points. The Australians have played fewer games to achieve the aforementioned ratings, so the Men in Blue are ranked second now as well.
It should be noted that Australia (35 games) and India (47) have played more matches than Pakistan (30). However, they have recently encountered somewhat less formidable opposition. Due to many of the frontline players being away on IPL duty, the New Zealand team they defeated 4-1 was not strong enough.
England, New Zealand, South Africa, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, West Indies and Afghanistan are the other seven teams in the top 10 list of the ICC ODI rankings.
Nepal is behind Ireland, Scotland and Zimbabwe after recently qualifying for the 2023 Asia Cup
🏆 𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐒 🏆
Victors of the #PAKvNZ ODI series 💪#CricketMubarak pic.twitter.com/Y2MuemqGki
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) May 7, 2023
To continue their winning streak in advance of the ICC’s Asia Cup and World Cup, Pakistan defeated New Zealand 4-1 in the five-match ODI series. Babar Azam and Co. won the first four matches against the Blackcaps by a combined score of five wickets, seven wickets, 26 runs and 102 runs respectively. The fifth game was won by the Kiwis by 47 runs, serving as a consolation victory.
In four games, Fakhar Zaman of Pakistan scored 330 runs at an average of 110. Including an unbeaten 180 in the second ODI in Rawalpindi, earning him the title of Player of the Series.
Pakistan will now participate in the upcoming 2023 Asia Cup. In the ongoing dispute over a neutral site for Indo-Pak matches. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) are awaiting a final decision.
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