Ex-Pakistan captain throws shade at Babar Azam's brigade achieving No.1 ranking in ODIs, says they played against 'third-tier teams'

Ahead of Pakistan's inaugural match in the ICC World Cup 2023, ex-captain Misbah-ul-Haq has voiced skepticism regarding Pakistan's recent ascendancy in ODI rankings. He hinted that Pakistan's achievement of the No.1 spot might have been due to playing against weakened opponents.

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Misbah commented on a local sports channel, stating that Pakistan secured the top rank twice this year by overcoming what he termed as Australia's 'C team' and New Zealand's 'D team'. While Pakistan currently holds the second position in the rankings, Misbah urged the team and fans to have a pragmatic view of Pakistan's standing on the global stage.

"New Zealand came to Pakistan and Australia too, obviously they were the top sides. But their C and D teams came. We played against them and won and our rating points increased," Misbah said on The Pavilion show of A Sports.

"Later on West Indies came and we won. We should keep actual facts in mind and not celebrate becoming No.1. We have to think realistically where we stand," he added.

He opined that if Pakistan were to face these teams' premier squads, the opponents might have the upper hand. It's worth noting that Pakistan defeated Australia 2-1 at home in March of the previous year and secured a dominant 4-1 victory over New Zealand in May 2023.

"Our best XI is playing while the opposition is fielding a third-tier team and still matches are being competitive. The ranking doesn't matter when Pakistan will play against their top team, they will have an edge," he said.

However, as the World Cup neared, Pakistan faced a setback, losing both warm-up matches against New Zealand and Australia. The Kiwis outperformed Pakistan with a five-wicket win, while Australia edged past them by 14 runs.

The much-anticipated ICC World Cup 2023 got underway on October 5 (Thursday) in India. Spanning from October 5 to November 19, the championship will see ten teams vying for the coveted trophy across ten different venues. Ahmedabad's renowned Narendra Modi Stadium has the honor of hosting both the opening match and the grand finale.

The World Cup will utilize a round-robin format, ensuring that all teams face off against each other in a series of 45 league matches. The best four teams will then advance to the semi-finals, scheduled in Mumbai on November 15 and Kolkata on November 16. Importantly, reserve days have been allocated for the semi-finals and the championship match, ensuring a smooth conclusion to the tournament.

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