[PICTURES] Can the Pakistan team ever remain among the top five sides in the ICC ODI rankings without facing minnow teams?

[The Bald Eagle]

Pakistan topped the ICC rankings last year in August after white washing a threatening Afghanistan side in ODIs but then the fortunes changed for them as they lost miserably in Asia Cup 2023 and CWC 2023. But again they managed to remain in top 5 courtesy to latest series win against Australia in Australia. Today, they showed a great fightback to avenge the loss against Zimbabwe in the first ODI but the question is that if Pakistan doesn't get to face the minnow sides in ODI, whether they still be among top 5 in the ICC ODI team rankings?

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Poll added Guys !

 

[Buffet]

I don't see any reason for Pakistan to not be in top 5 in ODI ranking given most good teams experiment in ODI and Pakistan usually plays full strength.

Actual question should be about performacne in ODI world cup where everyone is playing full team and not experimenting. Even there, Pakistan appears at 5th spot in W/L in last few WC.

I know theoretically, we can name Aus, Ind, Eng, SA, NZ etc as a better team, but when I pull actual record of last 2, 3 WCs or going back till 2000.... Pakistan has consitently maintained W/L spot of 5th.

Goal should be to qualify for semis in WC.

 

[Farabi]

Pakistan topped the ICC rankings last year in August after white washing a threatening Afghanistan side in ODIs but then the fortunes changed for them as they lost miserably in Asia Cup 2023 and CWC 2023. But again they managed to remain in top 5 courtesy to latest series win against Australia in Australia. Today, they showed a great fightback to avenge the loss against Zimbabwe in the first ODI but the question is that if Pakistan doesn't get to face the minnow sides in ODI, whether they still be among top 5 in the ICC ODI team rankings?

The ranking system awards more points for winning against higher ranked sides and penalizes more for losing against the lower ranked sides.
You cannot rank higher my beating minnows.
Pakistan may be playing more B sides than others, but it appears to be the same for everyone.
Pakistani success in ODIs could be down to the comfort level of its batters in this format vs T20s.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

make them play against top 5 teams for a year... I can assure you that Pakistan will be playing in the qualifiers next year to participate in ICC events.

 

[jnaveen1980]

In order to manage workload teams don't play full strength all the time. So it is very hard to tell who is top team who is not.

 

[sweep_shot]

#1 and #2 are booked. Aussies are #1 and India are #2.

#3 to #9 positions should remain unstable for a while. So, Pakistan may stay within #5 sometimes and go out of #5 sometimes.

 

[Local.Dada]

In order to manage workload teams don't play full strength all the time. So it is very hard to tell who is top team who is not.

Sometimes B teams are stronger than main teams too so it works out better

 

[RyanRyan10]

Sometimes B teams are stronger than main teams too so it works out better

like if they are being led by Rizwan?

 

[Aqib_mustafa]

I don't see any reason for Pakistan to not be in top 5 in ODI ranking given most good teams experiment in ODI and Pakistan usually plays full strength.

Actual question should be about performacne in ODI world cup where everyone is playing full team and not experimenting. Even there, Pakistan appears at 5th spot in W/L in last few WC.

I know theoretically, we can name Aus, Ind, Eng, SA, NZ etc as a better team, but when I pull actual record of last 2, 3 WCs or going back till 2000.... Pakistan has consitently maintained W/L spot of 5th.

Goal should be to qualify for semis in WC.

Ya right points made pak actually has been a better odi team than sa last few years data will prove that sa is going downhill big time.

 

[SportsWarrior]

#1 and #2 are booked. Aussies are #1 and India are #2.

#3 to #9 positions should remain unstable for a while. So, Pakistan may stay within #5 sometimes and go out of #5 sometimes.

#9 is also booked it will be BD. Now others have to find their spot

 

[SportsWarrior]

almost no team plays their full-strength team in bilateral anymore with the exception of Pakistan and BD. So, it is difficult to find out where each team stands until there is a global tournament

 

[Katwalindian]

I don't see any reason for Pakistan to not be in top 5 in ODI ranking given most good teams experiment in ODI and Pakistan usually plays full strength.

Actual question should be about performacne in ODI world cup where everyone is playing full team and not experimenting. Even there, Pakistan appears at 5th spot in W/L in last few WC.

I know theoretically, we can name Aus, Ind, Eng, SA, NZ etc as a better team, but when I pull actual record of last 2, 3 WCs or going back till 2000.... Pakistan has consitently maintained W/L spot of 5th.

Goal should be to qualify for semis in WC.

Man that 2019 world cup still hurts, I was their, that rain off game against srilanka costs us, NZ got lucky. WC was there for taking.

 

[Local.Dada]

like if they are being led by Rizwan?

Bro cmon, He is doing a good job as captain. He is not Imran Khan- Wasim Akram type captain so he will just follow orders and do his thing. Don’t blame him on days he has not done anything wrong

 

[RyanRyan10]

Bro cmon, He is doing a good job as captain. He is not Imran Khan- Wasim Akram type captain so he will just follow orders and do his thing. Don’t blame him on days he has not done anything wrong

I am not blaming. I am just supporting your beliefs.

 

[Buffet]

almost no team plays their full-strength team in bilateral anymore with the exception of Pakistan and BD. So, it is difficult to find out where each team stands until there is a global tournament

WC record sorted by W/L in the last 15 years, Pakistan is at 5th spot.

 

[gazza619]

I don’t believe in ICC rankings

Pakistan has always been a top 5 ODI team even with all the turmoil.

 

[Buffet]

Even if you take much recent data, Pakistan is still at 5th spot in W/L.

I don't think it's fair to say that Pakistan does not belong at 5th spot in ODI. Team has been consistently occupying 5th spot.

 

[Buffet]

Eng has been actually poor team in WC. Yah, they won one time but over all they have been poor in WC games. In most WC, I don't remember Eng doing much and that's reflected in their W/L.

Top 5 teams have been Ind, Aus, NZ, SA and Pak

 

[Rana]

Not with a captain who depends on luck

 

[SportsWarrior]

Even if you take much recent data, Pakistan is still at 5th spot in W/L.

I don't think it's fair to say that Pakistan does not belong at 5th spot in ODI. Team has been consistently occupying 5th spot.

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Yes, they are a good team. England is probably a much better team than Pak. England standings are hurt due to exceptionally poor 2023 world cup. Pak is probably around 6th position currently based on their skills and ability.

 

[ads101]

Until we have a reliable top 7 we will never be amongst the top teams. Most of the top teams have at least 5 or so quality consistently performing batsmen. We probably only have 3 at most at a time in form. And even that three is flawed in some way, whether it’s too slow or too susceptible to getting out early.

 

[Aang_The_last_airbender]

Even if you take much recent data, Pakistan is still at 5th spot in W/L.

I don't think it's fair to say that Pakistan does not belong at 5th spot in ODI. Team has been consistently occupying 5th spot.

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Against non-Minnows, even Bangladesh W/L is higher than Pakistan. (It becomes tricky whether one counts Bangladesh as minnow and status of WI is also debatable). More pointedly is the gap of W/L of top 5 teams and sudden dip at 6 where we find Bangladesh and Pakistan.

 

[Buffet]

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Against non-Minnows, even Bangladesh W/L is higher than Pakistan. (It becomes tricky whether one counts Bangladesh as minnow and status of WI is also debatable). More pointedly is the gap of W/L of top 5 teams and sudden dip at 6 where we find Bangladesh and Pakistan.

Interesting. So looking at your data and what I listed above, it seems Pakistan is punching above it's weight in WC.

 

[Aang_The_last_airbender]

Interesting. So looking at your data and what I listed above, it seems Pakistan is punching above it's weight in WC.

True! Pakistan tends to perform better in World Cups and seeing that Pakistan has only 1 Semi- final appearance in last 25 years (6 ODI world cups) thats not something to be cheerful about.
Pakistan were whitewashed before 2019 and spanked in Asia Cup before 2023 world cups. Consistency has never been Pakistan's forte unless it comes to bashing zimbabwe and Bangladesh in the past (its debatable now)

 

[Buffet]

True! Pakistan tends to perform better in World Cups and seeing that Pakistan has only 1 Semi- final appearance in last 25 years (6 ODI world cups) thats not something to be cheerful about.

Yes, 1 semi in the last 25 years is not great, but I was simply saying that Pakistan is over performing in WC based on their ability. That's why they have better W/L in WC than over all.

 

[Aang_The_last_airbender]

Yes, 1 semi in the last 25 years is not great, but I was simply saying that Pakistan is over performing in WC based on their ability. That's why they have better W/L in WC than over all.

True, Even in T20s, Pakistan has a better record in T20 world cups and infact best count of SF appearances at 6.
but W/L against top teams again falls to 6th.

 

[sweep_shot]

True, Even in T20s, Pakistan has a better record in T20 world cups and infact best count of SF appearances at 6.
but W/L against top teams again falls to 6th.
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You had to manipulate stats to show India at the top. Didn't you?

 

[Buffet]

^ So anytime, Pakistani fans complain about Pakistan not doing well in WC's they need to be shown these stats.

Pakistan has been doing extremely well in WCs. Specially in T20.

 

[Aang_The_last_airbender]

You had to manipulate stats to show India at the top. Didn't you?

literally no one is talking about India in these stats and discussion is solely on Pakistan's numbers.

 

[Hellion]

True, Even in T20s, Pakistan has a better record in T20 world cups and infact best count of SF appearances at 6.
but W/L against top teams again falls to 6th.
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You need to include West Indies as well in this analysis. They are a 2 time World T20 winning side.

 

[Vikram1989]

Interesting. So looking at your data and what I listed above, it seems Pakistan is punching above it's weight in WC.

As far as I remember, pak will beat regularly either one or both of nz,sa in a world cup but not in bilaterals. So it's definitely punching above for them in a wc much like kiwis.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Pakistan is more or less top 5 even though the performance have been bad in recent years. Especially after 2017, the team has taken nose dive but calling them number 6-7 ranked team seems unfair.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

This just shows that how good is Pakistan in this format that even with an awful and generally meritless squad they do so well

^ So anytime, Pakistani fans complain about Pakistan not doing well in WC's they need to be shown these stats.

Pakistan has been doing extremely well in WCs. Specially in T20.

 

[FearlessRoar]

This Pakistan team is virtually in the top ten, otherwise, they don't even have the potential to whitewash Ireland

 

[Hellion]

Pakistan seems to have glass ceiling at #5 in the ODI format. And it's been the case post 1999.

Last 2 World Cups, they missed out on the Top 4 but were the best of the rest .

 

[jnaveen1980]

Top 5 is not exactly platinum standard given that there are only about 10 teams. You should try to be one of the top 3 team.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

pakistan must be feeling proud that they are still in the top 10 even after such pathetic performances from last 2 years.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Another series win for Pakistan coming but these are of no use if they can't help them win or defend a title.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

The current side under Rizwan seems capable of it but still need to throw out players like Abdullah Shafique and need to bring in Fakhar ASAP. As Fakhar looks greatly out of mojo before the CT 2025

 

[sweep_shot]

Pakistan have beaten Australia in Australia and South Africa in South Africa.

They are definitely a top 5 ODI side right now. As a matter of fact, they are currently ranked #3 in ICC ODI ranking.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

If we look at these ODI stats of the Pakistan team... it clearly shows that we can easily be among the top three ODI teams in the world right now... winning the series against Australia and SA at their home cant be a fluke.

 

[Amjid Javed]

In order to manage workload teams don't play full strength all the time. So it is very hard to tell who is top team who is not.

Hilarious for Indian fan to come out with this.

Yet when I said that ODI bilateral, tri series etc.. were more meaningful in 80s and 90s compared to now. Also that only CT and WC were only way to gauge top ODI teams now you Indians knocked thar suggestion back

 

[Farabi]

View attachment 148065
Against non-Minnows, even Bangladesh W/L is higher than Pakistan. (It becomes tricky whether one counts Bangladesh as minnow and status of WI is also debatable). More pointedly is the gap of W/L of top 5 teams and sudden dip at 6 where we find Bangladesh and Pakistan.

10 years feels like an arbitrary filter because Pakistan ODI team was atrocious between 2012 and 2020. If you look at last three years it’s a totally different picture.

 

[Bhaijaan]

The answer is yes.

Pakistan is a passionate nation for cricket and as a result there will be constant supply of talent. To be honest being a mid tier team in cricket is the least you could ask for anyway because it’s still a sport constantly played by only a few nations at the highest level. The structure these 6-7 nations have is still something other so called minnow nations won’t have for decades.

Pakistan’s aim must be to break into the Big 3. In the 90s they were a Top 3 team. Possibly in late 80s also. Since 2000s it’s been a decline and Pakistan hasn’t consistently been a top 3 cricket nation despite reaching higher ranking here and there.

Breaking into Top 2/3 means you have had an 8 years run where you entered world cups as a Too contender , have won major series and stayed consistently in Top 3 and never went below that for a longer periods. Is it doable at present? Unlikely but Cricket in Pakistan i would say still has huge upside potential. You need to get there in 5-6 years time. It won’t be at the back of Saim Ayub or Gulab, but the entire cricketing structure in Pakistan would have to get better.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Pakistan is among the top 5 teams, no doubt.

The team saw lows but there were highs as well. beating Australia at home, then Zimbabwe, then South Africa. This is something we have not seen many times before... ODI team is quite settled. The problem is in T20s. test team is also not that bad.

 

[Farabi]

The answer is yes.

Pakistan is a passionate nation for cricket and as a result there will be constant supply of talent. To be honest being a mid tier team in cricket is the least you could ask for anyway because it’s still a sport constantly played by only a few nations at the highest level. The structure these 6-7 nations have is still something other so called minnow nations won’t have for decades.

Pakistan’s aim must be to break into the Big 3. In the 90s they were a Top 3 team. Possibly in late 80s also. Since 2000s it’s been a decline and Pakistan hasn’t consistently been a top 3 cricket nation despite reaching higher ranking here and there.

Breaking into Top 2/3 means you have had an 8 years run where you entered world cups as a Too contender , have won major series and stayed consistently in Top 3 and never went below that for a longer periods. Is it doable at present? Unlikely but Cricket in Pakistan i would say still has huge upside potential. You need to get there in 5-6 years time. It won’t be at the back of Saim Ayub or Gulab, but the entire cricketing structure in Pakistan would have to get better.

I’ve been following Pakistan cricket for 25 years now, and while our domestic system isn’t perfect, it’s far from terrible. The real issue isn’t a lack of talent; Pakistan has more than enough to be a top-3 team. The problem lies in how that talent is handled—or more accurately, mishandled.

One of the biggest barriers is the constant churn in the system. We have this tendency to bring players in and out of the fold based on subjective, “eye-test” opinions rather than relying on data and process.

The mentality in Pakistan is often “this guy is not international material,” and too many players get written off before they even debut or shortly after. It’s frustrating because there’s rarely any patience for player development. It’s as if every new player needs to be “discovered” already in their prime, skipping over the messy work of nurturing talent. And let’s be honest, this is only compounded by stories like Inzamam’s selection through the nets—which he himself has clarified multiple times was a myth. In reality, he was a consistent performer in domestic cricket.

Take Kamran Ghulam as an example. The guy is a domestic legend—breaking records, performing year after year—but he keeps getting written off as “not international material” because of someone's subjective opinion. Meanwhile, we’ve kept fielding bowlers like Nawaz and Shadab as middle-order batsmen, when it’s obvious that’s not their strength. Despite all this, the team still came close to winning titles.

But here’s the thing: despite all the turmoil and inconsistent decision-making, Pakistan’s ODI team is still one of the top three in the world, behind India and Australia. The idea that the recent success against so-called B or C teams is meaningless is, frankly, nonsense. Apart from the third ODI against Australia, both teams fielded their best available players.