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KARACHI: Pakistan’s brief reign at the top of the ICC Men’s ODI Rankings was cut short as they lost the No. 1 spot to Australia just 48 hours after achieving it for the first time in history.
The loss came after Pakistan’s defeat in the fifth match against New Zealand, which resulted in the team dropping two places in the ICC ODI Rankings and slipping to the third position.
Pakistan’s bid to retain the top spot hinged on their performance in the fifth ODI, as they had reached the No.1 position for the first time after winning the fourth match. However, their hopes were dashed as they suffered a 47-run defeat on Sunday, denying them a historic achievement and pushing them down the rankings.
Despite securing a commanding 4-1 series victory, Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam admitted to falling short of their desired outcome. Opening batsman Will Young led New Zealand’s charge with a blistering knock of 91 runs, while the entire batting unit contributed significantly.
Although Shaheen Afridi managed to take three wickets, Pakistan’s batting faltered with early dismissals of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan. While Agha Salman and Iftikhar Ahmed fought valiantly, their efforts were in vain as Pakistan’s chase fell short. The loss marked a significant moment for New Zealand, who celebrated their first victory in the ODI series.
Currently, Australia leads the ICC ODI Rankings with 113 points, with India closely following at the same rating. However, Pakistan has fallen to 112 points and is in third place, followed closely by England with 111 points. New Zealand has a rating of 108 after winning the fifth ODI.