Pakistan have taken a big step forward in the ICC Men’s ODI team rankings after a strong showing in the ongoing tri-series. The Green Shirts moved past Australia to claim the fourth position with 103 rating points. This rise comes right after back-to-back wins against Sri Lanka and England at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
South Africa sit just above them in third place with 104 points. India continue to lead the table with 115 points, while New Zealand hold second place with 109 points. The latest jump for Pakistan followed their dominant 87-run victory over England on Tuesday.
All-rounder Arafat Minhas stole the show with a brilliant all-round performance. He scored a solid 59 off 58 balls with the bat and then produced career-best bowling figures of 6/40 to tear through England’s batting order. Hasan Nawaz led the Pakistan innings with a well-crafted 79 off 74 deliveries. Faheem Ashraf added useful late runs with a quick 39 off 26 balls, and Saad Baig contributed 35 as the team recovered from a shaky 81-4 to post a competitive 302-9.
England struggled in reply and were bowled out for just 215. Tom Banton made 57 and Ben Duckett scored 45, but the rest of the batting line-up could not handle the pressure. Minhas played a key role in the collapse, taking important wickets including Will Jacks and Adil Rashid in successive deliveries. He also ran out Gus Atkinson to complete a memorable match-winning display.
This result has given Pakistan valuable ranking points and fresh confidence. The team will now look to carry the same intensity into the remaining matches of the tri-series. A few more strong performances could help them close the small gap with South Africa and push even higher in the ICC ODI rankings.
Fans across the country are celebrating the rise, seeing it as a sign of growing consistency in the 50-over format. With young talents stepping up and experienced players delivering, Pakistan appear well placed to keep improving their standing on the world stage.
