(Image source: X.com)
[Saba Sports News] The chances of Pakistan winning the World Cup 2023 trophy seem bleak, despite having the number one ODI batter Babar Azam, who is also the captain of the team.
Pakistan, who not too long ago were the numero uno ODI team, won bilateral series against Australia and New Zealand recently. However, the catch here is that the visiting teams sent mostly their second or third-string sides, making it easy for Pakistan to register wins and gain ranking points.
Former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq opened up in a discussion on this, emphasising that rankings do not matter, providing a much-needed reality check to those who were pleased to see Pakistan as the number one ODI team.
“New Zealand and Australia came to Pakistan. They were the top-ranked teams. Their C and D team came. We won against them and our rating points increased. Then West Indies and other teams came and we won against them as well. We became happy by achieving No. 1 rank, but we should keep actual facts in mind,” Misbah was quoted as saying on A Sports.
“Australia’s C team even won one match against us. Then New Zealand’s D team came, as all their main players went for IPL. We need to realistically think where we stand as our main team is playing and their third tier players are playing, yet they are getting so close to us. Ranking doesn’t matter,” he added.
Furthermore, the 49-year-old said that Pakistan cricket needs to think deeply about the direction in which things are heading as the second and third-string opposition teams also posed a significant challenge to Pakistan’s best playing eleven.
“We should realise & look at where we realistically stand as our best eleven against the opposition 3rd tier players were playing & still they were getting so close to beating us,” he concluded.
Pakistan also lost their warm-up match against Australia, which took place in Hyderabad, raising many questions ahead of their World Cup campaign. Pakistan is all set to play their first two matches of the World Cup 2023 in Hyderabad against the Netherlands and Sri Lanka on October 6 and 10 respectively. They will face their arch-rivals India in Ahmedabad on October 14.