Pakistan ‘in good position’ for World Cup, assures Babar Azam

Amid doubts over Pakistan’s participation in the World Cup, skipper Babar Azam believes that the “dominant” one-day series win over New Zealand sets Pakistan up nicely for the mega event.

Shaheens beat a depleted New Zealand 4-1 in the five-match series and on their way briefly reached the top of the one-day rankings for the first time.

Pakistan scored 337 in the second match — their second-highest successful chase in one-day internationals — and Babar became the fastest player to 5,000 ODI runs en route to his 18th century in the format.

Opener Fakhar Zaman meanwhile achieved the distinction of hitting hundreds in three successive ODIs, firmly establishing his place in Pakistan’s top three, which also includes opener Imam-ul-Haq.

Uncertainty looms over Pakistan’s participation in the World Cup in October-November because of tensions with hosts India.

Despite that and defeat in the final match on Sunday, Babar was in a buoyant mood.

“Winning the series is great and so is achieving the number one ranking that has set us in a good position for the World Cup,” said the skipper.

Asked if the uncertainty was worrying for the Pakistan team, Babar said: “We can’t say anything about that, but wherever we get a chance to play, we will play.”

The stand-off started last year when India announced it would not send a team to Pakistan for the Asia Cup in September, a month before the World Cup.

In response, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has threatened to pull out of the World Cup.

There are signs of a thaw, however. Last week Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari visited India to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in Goa — the first visit by a senior Pakistani official in years.