LONDON: Pakistan One-Day International (ODI) captain Azhar Ali wants to see the team take the form that has made them the world’s number one-ranked Test side into their ODI series against England.
Azhar was a member of the Pakistan team that secured a great 2-2 draw in a recent four-Test series against England and is presently searching for his side to hit same heights in the five-match ODI series beginning in Southampton on Wednesday.
Pakistan, taking after their results in England, and India’s rain-influenced fourth Test draw with the West Indies in Port-of-Spain, are presently number one in the Test rankings first time in history.
By difference, they are only ninth in the ODI standings and in threat of passing up a major opportunity for automatic qualification for the 2019 World Cup in England.
“Confidence is very high and belief is there, obviously coming from the Test series, we had a very good couple of months here,” Azhar told reporters at Southampton on Tuesday.
“We take that confidence into the one-day internationals as well. Being number one is a massive boost and a proud moment for Pakistan cricket and the whole nation is very happy about it, and as players the team is really happy about it. It’s definitely a good thing for us. Our one-day ranking is not great right now but we will take the opportunity and the way the team is performing, hopefully we can convert it into ODIs as well.” Azhar Ali told the reporters.
“The way England started playing after the World Cup, they played a lot of attacking, fearless cricket and they’ve been performing very well,” he said.