In a recent development, Pakistan has dropped to the third position in the International Cricket Council (ICC) One Day International (ODI) rankings after a 47-run loss to New Zealand in the final ODI of the five-match series. New Zealand, who fielded a depleted side with several key players absent due to Indian Premier League commitments, had already lost the series after Pakistan secured victories in the first four matches. However, they managed to end the series on a high note by clinching the final match in Karachi.
With the defeat, Pakistan has slipped to third place in the ICC ODI rankings, while New Zealand remains in fifth place despite the victory. This loss comes as a setback for Pakistan, who had previously claimed the number one spot in the rankings earlier this year.
Despite the loss, Pakistani skipper Babar Azam expressed confidence in his team’s performance and emphasized the need to maintain consistency. Azam praised his team’s efforts during the series and credited their dominant performance for briefly securing the top spot in the rankings.
It is important to note that Pakistan’s participation in the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup remains uncertain due to the ongoing tensions with host nation India. The stand-off began when India announced last year that it would not send a team to Pakistan for the Asia Cup, which was held in September 2020, a month before the World Cup. In response, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has threatened to pull out of the World Cup. The situation remains unresolved, and it is unclear if Pakistan will participate in the tournament.