‘New Zealand C and Australia D team came to play with us’ – Misbah-ul-Haq makes shocking claim on Pakistan’s no. 1 ranking in ODIs

The Pakistan cricket team is locking horns against the Netherlands to open their campaign for the ODI World Cup 2023 on October 6 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad. Notably, the Pakistan team lost back-to-back two ODI World Cup 2023 warm-up games against New Zealand and Australia. Despite that, they are in the second spot in the ODI rankings.

Notably, Team India placed themselves in the first spot after winning the Asia Cup 2023, and a strong win over Australia, surpassing Pakistan for the top spot. However, former Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq has made a shocking remark about their former first spot in the ODI rankings.

The former cricketer claimed that Australia and New Zealand came to Pakistan without their main players, which helped the Men in Green register a win against them. In addition, the 74-year-old cricketer also says that the frail West Indies team also came to Pakistan, which is the reason Pakistan’s points have increased and placed them in the top spot.

“New Zealand and Australia came to Pakistan. They were the top-ranked teams. Their C and D team came. We won against them and our rating points increased. Then West Indies and other teams came and we won against them as well. We became happy by achieving the No. 1 rank, but we should keep facts in mind,” Misbah-ul-Haq said.

We need to realistically think where Pakistan stand as our main team: Misbah-ul-Haq

Moreover, the former right-handed batsman warned Babar Azam and Co. to realise that their side has played with the C and D teams of New Zealand and Australia, even though their ODI rankings are too close to Pakistan.

“Australia’s C team even won one match against us. The New Zealand’s D team came, as all their main players went for IPL. We need to realistically think where we stand as our main team is playing and their third-tier players are playing, yet they are getting so close to us. The ranking doesn’t matter,” he added further.