Cricket Glory Beckons: The Path Pakistan Must Follow to Become the No. 1 ODI Team
Pakistan Aims for Top ODI Ranking with Afghanistan Series Win
Pakistan’s cricket team, currently ranked second in the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) ODI team rankings, has the opportunity to claim the top spot if they defeat Afghanistan in the upcoming three-match series. The series is scheduled to take place in Sri Lanka from August 22 to 26, with the first two matches held in Hambantota on August 22 and 24, followed by the final match in Colombo on August 26.
If Pakistan manages to secure a 3-0 victory against Afghanistan, they will ascend to the top of the ODI rankings. However, a single loss in the series could see them drop to the third spot.
Pakistan and Afghanistan have previously played four ODIs against each other, with Pakistan emerging victorious in all of them. Their last encounter in the ODI format was during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019.
Following the Afghanistan series, Pakistan will continue their preparations for the Asia Cup 2023. They are scheduled to play their first Asia Cup match against Nepal in Multan on August 30. Subsequently, they will face their arch-rivals India in Kandy on September 2 as part of the tournament. The Asia Cup will feature a total of nine matches, including the final scheduled for September 17.
The teams participating in the Asia Cup are divided into two groups: Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka in one group, and India, Pakistan, and Nepal in the other.
Pakistan squad for Asia Cup and Afghanistan ODIs
Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan (vc), Abdullah Shafique, Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Saud Shakeel (only Afghanistan series), Naseem Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Afridi, Tayyab Tahir and Usama Mir.
