KARACHI: Pakistan has achieved number one position in ICC ODI rankings for the first time since the introduction of ICC’s official team raking system in 2005 after the comfortable win in fourth ODI against New Zealand here at National Bank Stadium on Friday.
Pakistan were fifth in the ODI rankings before the series against New Zealand started with a rating of 106 but jumped to first position after winning four consecutive games against the Kiwis. The visitors were at second position before the series.
Babar Azam and men are now on top of the ODI teams’ chart with 113.483 rating points followed by Australia with 113.286 and India 112.638. They will further cement their place if they win the fifth ODI and complete the series clean sweep.
The ICC official ODI ranking system was introduced in 2005 and since then, Pakistan’s previous best-ever was 3rd position.
The method of ICC ranking was developed by renowned statistician David Kendix. The formula was also applied retrospectively to know the teams’ position before the ranking was officially launched.
According to the retrospective application of Kendix’s formula in historical position, Pakistan was last on top of ODI rankings in August 1991. However, that historical ranking stands no official status.
Faizan Lakhani Faizan Lakhani is Deputy Editor (Sports) at Geo News.