Babar Azam scored a magnificent century Friday to assist with lifting Pakistan to the highest point of the ODI rankings. After a pounding 102-run triumph in the fourth match against New Zealand.
The Pakistan cricket crew on Friday arrived at another high as it turned into the No. 1 ODI team in the rankings of the International Cricket Council (ICC).
After a crushing 102-run victory in the fourth match against New Zealand in Karachi. Babar Azam scored a magnificent century Friday to help propel Pakistan to the top of the rankings for one-day internationals.
Azam stroked a 117-ball 107 and furthermore turned into the quickest player to reach 5,000 ODI runs, as his group made 334-6 in their 50 overs.
He broke Hashim Amla’s previous record of 101 innings with his 18th ODI hundred. Which came in his 97th innings playing the format.
In 43.4 overs, skipper Tom Latham (60), Mark Chapman (46). Daryl Mitchell (34) provided some resistance, but New Zealand was bowled out for 232.
Pakistan’s bowlers were led by leg spinner Usama Mir, who scored a career-high 4-43. While pacers Mohammad Wasim (3-40) and Haris Rauf (2-37) impressed as well.
With the victory, Pakistan increased their lead in the five-match series to 4-0 and moved up to number one for the first time. Since the International Cricket Council officially recognized the rankings in 2005.
The last time Pakistan finished third in an ODI was in January 2018 and again in June 2022.
Rashid Latif, a former captain of Pakistan, had a subtle message for the Asia Cricket Council (ACC) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) following the publication of the most recent rankings.
The ideal moment to reach the No. 1 Rankings of ODI. The high rankings of Babar, Fakhar, Imam, Shaheen, and Shadab, in addition to this, will force the ACC, and ICC. Their sponsors to consider their options carefully before making any decisions.
Pakistan has once more demonstrated that they are a force. Bravo, fellows. He tweeted, “@ICC @TheRealPCBMedia #BabarAzam.”
The Asia Cup’s final location is expected to be in Pakistan. Has been the subject of much speculation over the past few months.
After ACC head and BCCI secretary Jay Shah said that India will not be going to Pakistan for the mainland occasion. There have been numerous speculations with respect to how the competition will occur.
The reports have varied, ranging from a hybrid model in which India’s matches could be played at a neutral venue to the tournament being postponed.
Although there has been no official confirmation of this. Some reports even suggested that Pakistan might rethink its decision to travel to India for the 2023 World Cup. If the Asia Cup is not held there between the two of these. The message from Latif is over.
In terms of the match, Azam was the star of the show. Scoring his 30th ton in all international cricket after New Zealand won the toss and batted the hosts at National Stadium. When he was 19 years old, the 28-year-old beat Amla’s record.
He added 50 for the second wicket along with Shan Masood (44). 127 for the fourth wicket along with Agha Salman (58), and 41 for the sixth wicket along with Iftikhar Ahmed (28).
Azam, the top ODI batsman for the past two years. Hit 10 boundaries before being caught at deep midwicket off debutant Ben Lister in the 48th over.
He is the 14th Pakistani to score 5,000 or more runs in ODI cricket, with former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq leading the list with 11,701.
He also beats Amla’s record of 102 innings to reach 18 hundred in one-day internationals.
With inputs from AFP