Pakistan’s brief moment at the top of the ICC Men’s ODI Rankings came to an end just 48 hours after they reached the number one position. The Men in Green lost their No. 1 spot after failing to complete a 5-0 sweep of New Zealand in Karachi on Sunday, May 7.
Pakistan had made history on Friday, claiming the top spot for the first time in their ODI cricket history. They leapfrogged India and Australia to clinch the number one position, but their moment of glory was short-lived.
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Despite winning the series 4-1, Pakistan’s defeat in the series finale to New Zealand saw them drop back to the No. 3 spot. Australia reclaimed the top spot, while India remained at No. 2, with just one point separating the top three teams in the race for the top spot in the ODI World Cup year.
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The Babar Azam-led side needed to claim a clean sweep to retain their position at the top of the rankings table. However, New Zealand outperformed Pakistan in the final ODI and handed them a 47-run defeat, pushing them back down in the rankings table just hours after they had achieved the historic milestone.
This was the first time Pakistan had reached the No. 1 spot in the history of the ICC rankings, making it a momentous occasion for the country. However, their inability to complete a clean sweep against New Zealand cost them their top spot in the rankings. The race for the top spot in the ODI rankings has become more competitive than ever before, with just one point separating the top three teams.