Pakistan maintain their good form in the 50-over format by defeating New Zealand by 26 runs at the National Stadium in Karachi on May 4. The hosts have an opportunity to top the ICC ODI Rankings if they win the final two games of the current series.
Pakistan is presently ranked third in the ICC ODI team rankings, led by Babar Azam, with a rating of 112. Australia leads the current standings with 113 points, the same as the second-placed Indian team. Full-strength Pakistan have demonstrated their dominance over Tom Latham’s side with remarkable all-round performances thus far, and are likely to sweep the series and claim the top spot in the rankings.
Pakistan ranks third in the ICC ODI Team Rankings, one rating behind Australia and India.
The preponderance of New Zealand players are currently participating in the Indian Premier League 2023 (IPL), which is evident in their performances thus far. They were unable to defend 336 runs in the second ODI and struggled to reach 288 runs in the most recent match. Imam-ul-Haq and Babar Azam each scored a fifty to assist Pakistan in posting a formidable total of 287/6. Matt Henry claimed three wickets for the Kiwis, while Adam Milne returns with two.
Will Young and Tom Blundell provided a promising start for New Zealand, with Blundell leading the way with 65 runs. Cole McConchie, a rookie all-rounder, scored 64 not out off 45 balls, but Shaheen Afridi struck late to send out the Kiwis for just 261 runs. The trio of fast bowlers Shaheen, Naseem Shah, and Mohammad Wasim each claimed two wickets to help Pakistan win the series.
Individually, the renowned Pakistani captain Babar Azam leads the ODI player’s chart. Babar fell one run short of fifty in the first one-day international against New Zealand, but scored consecutive half-centuries in the subsequent contests. Fakhar Zaman climbed to second position on the ICC ODI Player’s chart after scoring two consecutive centuries in the first two games of this series.