Category: PAK vs NZ

LAHORE: The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Management Committee Najam Sethi on Saturday, congratulated the entire nation after the national men’s team topped the ODI rankings for the first time ever.

Babar Azam-led side were fifth in the rankings with 106 rating points – seven behind the then leader Australia – at the commencement of the series but the green shirts put on a dominant show in the first four ODIs to jump four places.

A thumping 102-run victory in the fourth ODI lifted the national team to 113.483 rating points and leapfrogged Australia to get a hold on to the spot in the ODI rankings for the first time.

Pakistan’s previous best ODI ranking was third, which they achieved in January 2007.

Meanwhile, on a historic day for Pakistan cricket, the PCB management committee chairman Najam Sethi congratulated the entire nation and credited captain Babar Azam and the coaching staff for the achievement.

“I congratulate the entire nation on becoming the world number one in the ODIs of Pakistan Cricket Team,” stated Sethi.

“Captain Babar Azam, the entire team and the coaching staff deserve congratulations on this momentous occasion. I am proud of this team and wish them all the best,” he added.

The PCB head then went on to express his hope that the national team’s training will be fruitful for them in the upcoming Asia Cup and ODI World Cup.

It is worth mentioning here that Pakistan need to complete a clean sweep over hapless New Zealand in a bid to retain their top spot. A loss, however, would see them slipping back to the third position.

KARACHI: Pakistan’s all-format captain Babar Azam’s magnificent century bolstered the home side to breeze past New Zealand in the fourth PAK vs NZ ODI and claimed the top spot in the ICC ODI Team Rankings.

Watch PAK vs NZ Live Match in HD Streaming

The fourth PAK vs NZ ODI of the five-match series was played here at the National Bank Cricket Arena here on Friday.

New Zealand captain Tom Latham opted to bowl first after the coin flipped in his favour. Pakistan, in response, piled up a massive total on the scoreboard on the back of a brilliant century by their captain Babar Azam.

Babar smashed 10 boundaries on his way to top score for Pakistan with a 117-ball 107.

Besides him, Salman Ali Agha was the other notable run-getter for the hosts as he smashed his second half-century in the format.

Agha played a brisk 58-run knock in just 46 deliveries with the help of four boundaries and two sixes.

The target set by the green shirts turned out to be too much for New Zealand as they succumbed to their fourth straight defeat in the ongoing five-match series despite a brilliant half-century by their skipper Latham.

Latham remained the top scorer for the touring side with a 76-ball 60, which featured five boundaries.

KARACHI: Pakistan captain Babar Azam notched up his 18th century and powered Pakistan to thrash New Zealand by a massive margin of 102 runs in the fourth PAK vs NZ ODI of the five-match series here on Friday.

With their dominant 102-run victory over hapless New Zealand, Pakistan claimed the top spot in the ODI Team Rankings for the first time in history.

Congratulations, Pakistan 🎉

They go to the top of the @MRFWorldwide ICC Men's ODI Team Rankings 🙌 pic.twitter.com/GUq2CjOEoK

— ICC (@ICC) May 5, 2023

Set to chase a mammoth 335, New Zealand’s batting lineup crumbled and bundled out for a meagre 232 in the 43rd over despite their skipper Tom Latham’s 60 and thus handed a massive 102-run victory to the home side.

The touring side had a cautious start to the run chase as their openers Will Young (15) and Tom Blundell raised 36 runs for the first wicket before the latter fell victim to Mohammad Wasim Jr in the eighth over.

New Zealand then endured another setback in the form of Tom Blundell, who could score 23 off 29 before handing a simple catch to Iftikhar Ahmed off Haris Rauf in the ninth over.

Following the slump, New Zealand captain Latham and Daryl Mitchell looked to anchor the run chase as they stitched a vital 83-run partnership for the third wicket.

The duo appeared to have settled down and were eyeing to race up the run rate but Mitchell faltered against Usama Mir and walked back after managing to score 34 off 48 and hit a boundary.

Latham was then involved in yet another crucial partnership for New Zealand as he, alongside Mark Chapman, added 55 runs to the total amid their fourth-wicket stand.

Their stand was turning out to be a game changer as Chapman – the core aggressor – was taking the Pakistan bowlers to the cleaners before Latham faltered against Pakistan.

The New Zealand captain top-scored for his side with a 76-ball 60, which featured five boundaries.

New Zealand then succumbed to yet another massive blow when Usama castled the danger-man Chapman in the 36th over, who fell just four of his half-century.

He remained the notable run-getter for New Zealand with a brisk 46 off 33 deliveries, smashing four boundaries and three sixes.

Chapman’s dismissal triggered a match-defining collapse and New Zealand were soon bundled out in the 44th over.

Usama led the bowling attack for Pakistan with 4/43, followed by Wasim Jr’s 3/40, while Haris Rauf struck twice.

Put into bat first in the fourth PAK vs NZ ODI, the home side piled up a mammoth 334/6 in 50 overs at the back of a magnificent century-knock by their skipper Babar Azam.

Watch PAK vs NZ 4th ODI Live Match Streaming in HD

Earlier, the home side got off to an unwanted start as they lost their in-form opener, Fakhar Zaman (14) with just 36 runs on the scoreboard.

Following Fakhar’s early dismissal, Pakistan captain Babar walked into the middle and joined set batter Shan Masood to anchor the innings.

The pair batted sensibly and put their side in command with the 50-run partnership until Ish Sodhi deceived Masood in the 17th over to draw a much-needed breakthrough for the touring side.

The left-handed batter scored 44 off 55 deliveries, hitting seven boundaries.

Babar then put on a brief partnership with his T20I opening partner Mohammad Rizwan – promoted to bat at No. 4 – before a direct hit from Matt Henry marked the end of the latter’s gritty 24-run knock.

Babar then stitched a vital fourth-wicket partnership with Salman Ali Agha and dominated New Zealand bowlers as the pair added 117 runs at a decent pace with the latter being the core aggressor of the stand.

Agha put the touring side under immense pressure by smashing four boundaries and two sixes amid his 58-run knock, which ended after Henry pulled a stunning catch off his own bowling.

Making his return to the ODI side after a year hiatus, Iftikhar Ahmed took some time to settle before taking the New Zealand bowlers to the cleaners amid his 41-run stand with Babar.

Pakistan skipper then made history by becoming the fastest to score an 18th ODI century amid his sixth-wicket stand with Iftikhar.

Meanwhile, Iftikhar, who was breathing fire, skied one off Henry in the 47th over before walking back to the pavilion after scoring 28 off just 22 deliveries, laced up with five boundaries.

Babar Azam’s stay at the crease remained brief after Iftikhar’s dismissal as he perished in the next over after top-scoring for his side.

He whacked 10 boundaries amid his magnificent knock of 107 in 117 deliveries.

Following Babar’s departure, unbeaten cameos from Mohammad Haris (17 off eight) and Shaheen Shah Afridi (23 off seven) made sure the hosts finished their innings on a high.

KARACHI: Pakistan all-format skipper Babar Azam on Friday broke another world record as he became the fastest batter to score 5000 runs in One-Day international cricket during the ongoing PAK vs NZ ODI.

Watch PAK vs NZ 4th ODI Live Match Streaming in HD

Babar surpassed South Africa’s legendary batter Hashim Amla to reach the landmark in the fewest number of innings.

The 28-year-old took just 97 innings to amass 5000 ODI runs, four innings fewer than the previous record of 101 innings held by Amla.

𝐀𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐝 🤩@babarazam258 becomes the fastest batter to 5️⃣,0️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ ODI runs 👏#PAKvNZ | #CricketMubarak pic.twitter.com/5Yas7066lp

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) May 5, 2023

Meanwhile, he left behind greats on the list including West Indies’ Sir Vivian Richards and Indian star Virat Kohli, who both took 114 innings to reach the mark.

It is worth mentioning here that the no.1-ranked ODI batter was also the second-fastest to gather 4,000 runs in ODI cricket.

He fell one short of Hashim Amla’s 81 innings when he reached that mark in the first ODI against Australia in Lahore last year.

Babar raced to his next 1000 runs in only 15 innings to make sure he overtakes Amla this time.

The right-hander claimed the feat when he completed his 19th run while Pakistan were 86/1 in the 17th over of their innings.

New Zealand, who are trailing 3-0 in the five-game series, won the toss and put Pakistan to bat in the fourth ODI.

READ: PAK vs NZ: Nawaz set to miss fourth ODI with injured finger

 

KARACHI: New Zealand won the toss and elected to bowl first against Pakistan in the fourth match of the PAK vs NZ ODI series here at Karachi’s National Bank Cricket Arena on Friday. 

PLAYING XIs

Pakistan: Shan Masood, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Haris, Agha Salman, Usama Mir, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Wasim, Haris Rauf

New Zealand: Will Young, Tom Blundell (wk), Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (c), Mark Chapman, James Neesham, Cole McConchie, Ish Sodhi, Matt Henry, Ben Lister, Blair Tickner

HEAD TO HEAD (T20Is)

Matches 113, Pakistan 53, New Zealand 56, No Result 4

KARACHI: Mohammad Nawaz will not be available for today’s PAK vs NZ fourth ODI as he continues to recover from an index finger injury in his bowling hand, told sources. 

The left-arm spinner hurt himself while bowling in the third ODI on Wednesday as on-strike batter Daryll Mitchell struck forcefully which came back at Nawaz sharply and hit him on the tip of one of his finger on the left hand.

The incident happened in the 21st over after which Nawaz was taken off the field and could not bowl any further in the match.

No replacement for the injured all-rounder has been confirmed yet.

It must be noted here that Pakistan beat New Zealand in the third ODI at Karachi’s National Bank Cricket Arena to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series.

After the series triumph, Babar Azam-led Pakistan will take on the visitors in the fourth ODI at the same venue as the Green Shirts aim to become the No.1 ODI team for the very first time.

PAK VS NZ ODI: Following their triumphant victory over New Zealand in the thrilling third One Day International (ODI), the spirited Pakistani fans are eagerly anticipating yet another glorious triumph as they set their sights on the upcoming fourth match at the National Stadium Karachi.

Watch PAK vs NZ 4th ODI Match in HD Streaming at ARY ZAP.

The anticipation in the air is palpable as the green-clad warriors prepare to showcase their unwavering determination, aiming to secure another resounding triumph in the enthralling PAK vs NZ five-match ODI series.

Babar Azam, the masterful captain of the Pakistani team, has propelled his side to an impressive 3-0 lead in the series, orchestrating victories in the first three matches with remarkable finesse.

With their mettle on full display, Pakistan is fervently determined to seal the series with yet another commanding performance in the fourth ODI, effectively extending New Zealand’s streak of demoralizing defeats.

However, buoyed by their remarkable comeback in the T20I series, where they rallied from an initial 0-2 deficit to salvage a draw, the resilient New Zealand team is seeking to draw inspiration once again.

Eager to overturn their fortunes, they are determined to rebound in the fourth ODI and skillfully reverse the tides in their favor, mirroring their remarkable resurgence from the previous contest.

New Zealand’s bowling unit, admittedly faltering in all three matches, has failed to defend substantial scores of 288, 337, and 287, respectively.

In light of this disappointment, under the astute guidance of their leader Tom Latham, they are resolute in their pursuit of a much-improved performance in the upcoming clash.

With renewed determination, they aspire to clinch their first victory of the series, setting the stage for a captivating battle on the cricket field.

Pakistan Squad:

Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haris Sohail, Ihsanullah, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim, Naseem Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood and Usama Mir.

New Zealand Squad:

Tom Latham (c), Henry Nicholls, Tom Blundell, Cole McConchie, Daryl Mitchell, Rachin Ravindra, Ish Sodhi, Will Young, Chad Bowes, Ben Lister, Adam Milne, James Neesham, Henry Shipley, Blair Tickner

PAK vs NZ ODI Schedule:

27 Apr – 1st ODI, Rawalpindi

29 Apr – 2nd ODI, Rawalpindi

3 May – 3rd ODI, Karachi

5 May – 4th ODI, Karachi

7 May – 5th ODI, Karachi

KARACHI: Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi on Thursday hosted an honorary dinner for the players and coaching staff of the national cricket team and appreciated their victory in the ongoing PAK vs NZ ODI series.

According to the details, the Pakistan team, who booked the ODI series against New Zealand by taking an unassailable 3-0 lead, attended the dinner hosted by Afridi at his residence in Karachi.

Taking to Twitter, Shahid Afridi shared a few clicks of the get-together and applauded the cricketers for their recent win against the Blackcaps.

“Hosted Pakistan’s heroes for dinner, super proud of each one of you. Good luck for tomorrow.” he wrote.
 

https://twitter.com/SAfridiOfficial/status/1654173647089565703

Players including Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim, Ihsanullah, Iftikhar Ahmed and Mohammad Haris along with coaching staff members attended the dinner.

The guests could also be seen offering congregational prayer inside Afridi’s house.

It must be noted here that Pakistan beat New Zealand by 26 runs in the third ODI on Wednesday at National Bank Cricket Arena to seal the series with two games to spare.

The remaining two matches will be played on Friday and Sunday at the same venue.

READ: PAK vs NZ: Pakistan eye No.1 spot in ODIs with 5-0 series sweep

KARACHI: Pakistan are well on track to become the No.1 ODI team for the very first time after they took an unassailable 3-0 lead in the PAK vs NZ ODI series with two games to spare. 

Wins in the remaining two matches on May 5 and 7 will take the Green Shirts to the top of the ICC ODI team rankings which will be a historic first for Pakistan, surpassing their previous best as number three on a number of occasions.

Currently, the Men in Green are placed third on the ICC ODI rankings with 112 rating points, one behind the first and second-ranked Australia and India (113).

With the team in a great vein of form, Babar Azam and company would not be willing to settle down with just a series triumph, which came after a long wait of 12 years against the Blackcaps.

“We have to continue this performance and make it a five-nil,” said Babar in the post-match presentation after Pakistan took the series-deciding victory in the third ODI at the National Bank Cricket Arena in Karachi on Wednesday.

The skipper and opener Imam led the charge for the Green Shirts in yesterday’s encounter as they beat New Zealand by 26 runs after setting a respectable 288-run target.

Imam-ul-Haq smashed seven boundaries and a six on his way to top score for Pakistan with a 107-ball 90.

Babar Azam, on the other hand, was also impressive with the bat as he notched up 54 runs in 62 balls, laced up with three boundaries and a six.

The target set by the green shirts turned out to be too much for New Zealand as they succumbed to their third straight defeat in the ongoing five-match series despite a brilliant start by their openers – Will Young and Tom Blundell.

Blundell remained the top scorer for the touring side with a 78-ball 65, which featured seven boundaries.

Both teams will now take on each other on Friday in the fourth ODI before playing the final ODI on Sunday at the same venue.

READ: Haaland sets Premier League record of 35 goals in a season

KARACHI: Pakistan opener Imam-ul-Haq looked contented for playing an impactful role in the team’s victory despite falling prey to nervous nineties in the third PAK vs NZ ODI series on Wednesday.  

Imam scored 90 from 107 balls to help the Green Shirts beat New Zealand by 26 runs here at National Bank Cricket Arena and take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-game series.

“I am happy that our team have won today and I played my part in it, though every batsman feels a little bit disappointed when he gets out on the nineties,” he said in a post-match press conference.

Revealing that he was upset for missing out on his 10th ODI hundred, the left-hander claimed the situation required him to play his shots freely and not to slow down.

“I was acting according to the team’s plans because we wanted to get to 290 or 300.”

When asked about his on-field chemistry with skipper Babar Azam since the two gathered their ninth centurion stand in yesterday’s match, Imam replied, “It is because we both are playing together for so long and batted through every thick and thin.”

He, however, revealed that Babar and his opening partner Fakhar Zaman have very contrasting traits, and he enjoyed batting with both of them.

“Fakhar does not speak a lot and Babar does not remain quiet for long. It is fun batting with both of them because Babar is a good friend of mine and Fakhar has been batting with me since our time in domestic cricket.”

With ICC ODI World Cup in sight, Imam believed it was not appropriate to experiment with the team at this stage and has shunned the idea of including hard-hitters, Iftikhar Ahmed or Mohammad Haris, in the lower middle order.

“If I tell you honestly, I don’t think so, because we don’t have time to do experiments, and with Agha [Salman], Shadab [Khan] and [Mohammad] Nawaz, we have enough power-hitting in our ranks. We just need to give them confidence. Sometimes it is very different to come at number five or six and play only six or seven overs,” he said.

It is pertinent to mention Pakistan will play the last two matches against the visitors at the same venue on May 5 and 7.

READ: Huraira, Omair ton put Pakistan Shaheens in command on opening day