Pakistan’s short-lived reign as the number one ODI team in the world came to an end just 48 hours after they achieved the top ranking for the first time in their history. The team was unable to complete a clean sweep against New Zealand in the final ODI match held in Karachi on May 7, leading to their rapid fall from the summit.
Despite securing a commanding 4-1 victory in the five-match series, the Pakistan team captain Babar Azam acknowledged that they fell short of achieving their desired outcome. The consolation win by New Zealand dashed their hopes of a complete series whitewash and saw Pakistan tumbling down from the top spot.
Why did Pakistan lose the number one spot?
Pakistan’s hold on the top ranking was short-lived, and their failure to complete a whitewash against New Zealand cost them the coveted number-one spot. Despite dominating the series, Pakistan’s inconsistent performances in the final ODI meant that they were unable to achieve their desired outcome. The batting unit struggled to find form in the final match, with key players departing early in the chase, leaving too much to be achieved in the closing stages.
Pakistan’s inability to complete a whitewash meant that they lost crucial ranking points, and Australia, who currently lead the rankings with 113 points, overtook them. India, which shares the same number of points as Australia, is now in second place, and Pakistan finds itself in third place with 112 points.
Pakistan’s performance in the final ODI
In the final ODI, New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat first, setting a challenging target of 299 runs in 49.3 overs. Opening batsman Will Young showcased his skills with a rapid-fire knock of 91 runs from 87 balls. The entire batting unit contributed significantly to the team’s total, although Tom Blundell (15) and Henry Nicholls departed early. Captain Tom Latham led from the front, scoring a well-earned 59 off 58 deliveries.
In the middle overs, Mark Chapman played his usual attacking game, smashing two sixes and five boundaries. Rachin Ravindra provided a late flourish with a quick cameo of 28 runs from just 20 balls, pushing the total close to the 300-run mark. Shaheen Afridi was the standout performer among the Pakistan bowlers, claiming three wickets. Usama Mir and Shadab Khan also chipped in with two wickets each.
Pakistan’s batting lineup faltered as their star players, Babar Azam (1) and Mohammad Rizwan (9), departed early in the chase. Agha Salman (57) and Iftikhar Ahmed (94 off 72 balls) fought valiantly to keep Pakistan’s hopes alive. Iftikhar’s knock included two sixes and eight boundaries, and he remained unbeaten at the end of the innings.
Despite Iftikhar’s heroic efforts, Pakistan’s chase fell short as they left too much to be achieved in the closing stages. New Zealand celebrated their first victory in the ODI series, marking a significant moment for the team.
What Pakistan needs to do to regain the number-one spot
Pakistan’s loss of the top spot will come as a blow to the team, but there are steps they can take to regain the number one ranking. The team needs to focus on consistency, both in their batting and bowling performances. In the final ODI, their top-order batsmen failed to deliver, leaving too much to be achieved by the middle and lower order.
In terms of their bowling, Shaheen Afridi was once again the pick of the Pakistani bowlers. He finished with figures of 3/58 in his 10 overs and was well-supported by Usama Mir and Shadab Khan who chipped in with two wickets each. However, the rest of the bowling unit struggled to contain the Kiwi batsmen, with Mohammad Hasnain conceding 80 runs in his nine overs, while Haris Rauf and Faheem Ashraf went wicketless.
Despite the loss, Pakistan can take heart from their impressive performances throughout the series. The team showed great resilience and character, bouncing back from a disappointing loss in the first ODI to win the next four matches in commanding fashion. The standout performers for Pakistan were undoubtedly Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman. Babar became the fastest player in history to reach 5,000 ODI runs during the series, while Fakhar became the first Pakistani to score three consecutive ODI centuries.
Despite these achievements, the team will be disappointed to have lost their No. 1 ranking so soon after achieving it. However, they will have the opportunity to regain the top spot when they take on England in a three-match ODI series in July.
It is worth noting, however, that Pakistan’s participation in the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, scheduled to take place in India in October and November, remains uncertain. This is due to ongoing tensions between the two countries, which have led to a number of sporting events being canceled or relocated in recent years.
Pakistan’s cricket board has previously threatened to withdraw from the tournament if it is not allowed to play its matches against India on neutral territory. However, there have been some signs of a thaw in relations between the two countries, with Pakistani foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari recently visiting India for the first time in years.
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Regardless of whether or not Pakistan participates in the T20 World Cup, the team will be looking to build on their recent successes and continue to improve in all formats of the game. With talented players like Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Shaheen Afridi, and Shadab Khan leading the way, the future looks bright for Pakistani cricket.
Pakistan’s loss to New Zealand in the final ODI may have cost them their No. 1 ranking in the ICC Men’s ODI Rankings, but the team can take pride in their overall performance in the series. The team showed great character and resilience, bouncing back from an early defeat to win the next four matches in dominant fashion. While they may have fallen short in the final match, there is no doubt that this team has the talent and potential to achieve great things in the future. As Pakistani cricket fans, we can look forward to more exciting performances from this talented team in the years to come.
