Pakistan must win all three ODIs to retain points

E-Paper | June 15, 2026

Pakistan will have to sweep the three One-Day International series against Zimbabwe, starting in Lahore on May 26 (tomorrow), to ensure that it doesn’t drop points on the Reliance ICC ODI Team Rankings.

Ninth-ranked Pakistan will start the series with a difference of 42 points relative to 11th-ranked Zimbabwe and this gap means it is expected to win the series convincingly.

As such, because the rankings are weighted to reflect this difference, failure to win the series convincingly will mean Pakistan will drop points.

Pakistan will stay on 87 points if it wins 3-0, but will drop to 85 points if it wins the series 2-1. Zimbabwe’s 2-1 series win will mean Pakistan will slide to 83 points.

England plus the seven next highest-ranked sides on the Reliance ICC ODI Team Rankings will progress to the ICC Champions Trophy 2017.

With only one point separating Pakistan from the seventh-ranked West Indies, it cannot afford to lose any matches against Zimbabwe.

After this series against Zimbabwe, Pakistan has a scheduled five-ODI series against Sri Lanka in July while Bangladesh has home ODIs against India and South Africa.

— ICC

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concerned

May 25, 2015 07:06pm

Not possible with shoaib malik and umar akmal...wake up waqar

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Abid Shah

May 25, 2015 07:40pm

Waqar Younis doesn't have any vision or strategy. First for a home series why would you need to name a 16 men squad? Why don't just name 12-13 players and select eleven, if there is any emergency you can relieve one player and call in another. Secondly, based on T20 performance as well as any logic, there is no room for S Malik in any team if you already have Hafeez (offspin option) and Asad Shafiq as batting stabilizing factor. On top of all this, how can you have Sarfaraz and Rizwan both in one team? Also Hammad Azam and Anwar Ali in one team. They should have following eleven with two backup: 01. Azhar Ali, 02. Ahmed Shehzad, 03. Mohammad Hafeez, 04. Haris Sohail, 05. Asad Shafiq, 06. Mohammad Rizwan, 07. Anwar Ali, 08. Wahab Riaz, 09. Mohammad Sami, 10. Yasir Shah, 11. Junaid Khan - in backup they should have Nauman Anwar and Mukhtar Ahmad as current side lack any explosive batsman.

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amer

May 25, 2015 08:04pm

why !!!!this ODI series is not officiated by ICC then why this one sided show, wining all three odi's and no advancement in points and if wining unconvincingly then loosing points,it's just above me

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Joe

May 25, 2015 08:18pm

Think its gonna be a clean sweep by pakistan, best of luck

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MrKam

May 25, 2015 08:53pm

Shoaib Malik should be made the new captain of Pakistan Cricket team. It will be the only reason for which his selection in the team could be justified.

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optimist

May 25, 2015 08:56pm

The # 1 priority for Waqar and PCB is to improve its ranking so they can play the Champions Trophy. For this PCB must take some bold decisions and realistically see what is not working. The selectors and coach must forget about their likes and dislikes and pick the best result oriented team. Azhar Ali does not have the personality to win matches whereas the coaches have failed to improve the bat ability of even one player. Shoaib Malik should be appointed captain of the ODI with full powers to select his own team. No need for selectors but those who are running cricket nurseries should give their suggestions to the captain and newly appointed consultant/coach Javed Miandad. The captain and coach should be given the task to revive the ODI cricket. I don't think Pakistan will make a clean sweep against Zimbabwe under Azhar Ali and Waqar Younus. If Pakistan lose against Zimbabwe will that be the moment when Shaharyar n presses the panic button fire the coach(s).

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Blue Saffron

May 25, 2015 09:24pm

That does not make sense. Voodoo arithmetic!

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sandeep

May 25, 2015 09:55pm

Pakistan will not qualify for champions trophy. mark my words

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sandeep

May 25, 2015 10:15pm

Shoaib Malik is most dependable player in Pakistan team

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sandeep

May 25, 2015 10:18pm

I guess Zimbabwe has given green signal to Pakistan tour only to achieve wins and climb in odi ratings so to qualify in champions trophy

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sandeep

May 25, 2015 10:20pm

Battle for champions trophy begins

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farjee

May 25, 2015 11:19pm

Well I think it's important to revive cricket in Pakistan than worrying about points and we will not achieve anything by going with a weak team to champion trophy but playing with weaker teams at home will give local telant chance will get you a better team for world cup.

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PAKFAN

May 25, 2015 11:20pm

With fragile batting line up Pakistan has tp play four specialist bowlers(excluding Muhammad Sami, he cannot be consistent for 10 overs) to win. Wahab Riaz, Junaid Khan, Yasir Shah and ???. To win wickets need to be taken! Shoaib Malik, Harris and Hafeez all part timer bowlers...

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farjee

May 25, 2015 11:21pm

@sandeep we will by defeating India and points will be more this is not world cup Bro check some stats..

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malik

May 26, 2015 12:40am

Not Going to happen with Shoaib Malik and Asad Shafiq. In fact I hope Zimbabwe wins because An international side with Shoaib Malik in it does not deserve to win

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Yasir

May 26, 2015 02:10am

I am not sure about three consecutive wins, but I'm sure three consecutive sixes of the bowling of M.Sami, just like last night.

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Sab Se Pehle Pakistan

May 26, 2015 03:22am

Without Misbah and Afridi it will be difficult. Prayers are with you Pakistan team. Selection committee wake up

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Shahid

May 26, 2015 04:12am

@amer , So let me explain it. The points earned in this series will replace the points Pakistan earned when last time Pakistan played Zimbabwe at home. The last domestic series against Zimbabwe ended in favour of Pakistan with 3-0. So now if we win it with the same margin then we only will retain our ranking point as they are before this series.

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Shakil Qureshi

May 26, 2015 09:53am

Not possible with Sohail Malik & Azhar past performance, Pakistan will not qualify for champions trophy. mark my words.

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musheer

May 26, 2015 11:27am

They will not qualify for championship, it will be good at least PCB will change and bring new blood in team, Why malik ,Shahazad,Umer and sami after getting ample chances they did perform against minions the perform and remain in team. Time to groom new players against small team later it helps.

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whatapm

May 26, 2015 02:01pm

Pakistan's win further reveals the reality of Bangladesh debacle. Shehryar did it again.

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PRAKASH

May 26, 2015 02:12pm

@amer ICC has already given official status to matches. Current point and rank Pakistan-81pts-9th rank Zimbabwe-45pts-11th rank. Zim has almost half the points than pakistan, you are supposed to whitewash Zim even in ur sleep, so for that you won't get any extra points.(you could have better called Ireland, they are 10th ranked team)

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PRAKASH

May 26, 2015 02:16pm

@farjee really bro, did u evn read the report? Cut off time for Champions trophy is September 2015, and u hv only Zim and SL series for getting enough points to qualify. Evn if Indo PAK series happens it will b in December i.e. after the cut off period. Go check some real stats not imaginary ones.

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Mahen

May 26, 2015 02:49pm

A doctored flat pitch will do the trick for Pakistan as they would be aware they got whitewashed in BDesh. Look out for the FLAT pitch

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