Weeks before the 2023 World Cup, Pakistan ranks as the best ODI team. The ‘Men in Green’ have ranked as the top team in ODI cricket, giving Pakistan’s hopes of hosting the World Cup in 2023 a huge boost. The Asian powerhouse accomplished this after edging Afghanistan by a single wicket in the second ODI of their current three-match series in Sri Lanka.
With the victory, Pakistan knocked Australia off the top spot and widened the gap with third-placed India.
In the opening ODI in Hambantota, Pakistan, led by captain Babar Azam, destroyed Afghanistan by 142 runs. The ‘Men in Green’ also won the second game, albeit in a nail-biting final over with a wicket and a ball to spare.
In just a few weeks before the upcoming ODI Cricket World Cup 2023 in India, Pakistan has risen in the ICC ODI Team rankings as a result of their most recent victories over Afghanistan.
Australia dropped to second place, while the next three countries in the top 10 standings are India, New Zealand, and England.
Depending on how well Babar Azam and the rest of the team perform at the upcoming Asia Cup in Sri Lanka and at home, they may improve their ranking even further. Additionally, they will face off against Afghanistan in the third and final ODI of their series before the premier continental competition.
The upcoming set of matches for Pakistan are their last opportunity to practise before the crucial World Cup in India in 2023. They will begin their campaign on October 6 against the Netherlands before facing India, the tournament’s hosts, on October 14 at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
