Pakistan teams happiness about becoming the number one ranked ODI team only last year couple of days as after losing the 5th and final ODI to the New Zealand team they have slipped to the third spot in the latest update of the ICC rankings.
Pakistan rose to the top of the ODI rankings after it won the fourth game of the series on Friday, but needed a 5-0 sweep to retain its No. 1 spot. Under-strength New Zealand enjoyed a consolation 47-run win in the fifth and final one-day cricket international to deny Pakistan a clean sweep of the series on Sunday.
Half-centuries by Will Young (87) and captain Tom Latham (59) formed the backbone of New Zealand’s total of 299 in 49.3 overs after Latham won his third successive toss in the Karachi leg of the series, but decided to bat first for the first time.
In response, Pakistan could only manage 252 in 46.1 overs — its lowest total in the series. Babar Azam went for just one run in his 100th ODI in the final game.
Iftikhar Ahmed’s 94* Goes In Rain As New Zealand Wins The 5th ODI
Pakistan needed to win the match and stay at the top of that points ranking however their chase didn’t materialize as they wanted to and it was only Iftikhar Ahmed who stood tall among the rubbles of the innings.
He made a fighting unbeaten 94 off 72 balls after Pakistan’s top-order stuttered for the first time in the series. Fakhar Zaman (33) and Shan Masood (7) both struggled and despite Ahmed and Salman Agha put Pakistan’s chase back on track with a 97-run fifth-wicket stand before Shipley returned and broke the partnership.
But they were all out for 262 chasing 300 to win. New Zealand’s white-ball tour to Pakistan was without eight of its regular players because of their commitments in the Indian Premier League.