Stats have shown Pakistan as the second-most unprepared team for the ODI World Cup 2023, having played only 23 matches in the last four years while India tops the chart with 54 games.
While the Men in Green started their ODI World Cup preparatory campaign with the first match against New Zealand, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has been criticized for not providing sufficient exposure to its players in the One Day International (ODI) format ahead of the upcoming World Cup.
With only 23 ODI matches played since the 2019 World Cup, Pakistan ranks second lowest among major cricket-playing nations, with Afghanistan being the only team to have played fewer matches. This lack of practice in the format could be detrimental to the team’s performance in the World Cup, as players may face difficulty in adapting to the ODI format after an extended period of playing primarily T20 cricket.
In contrast, India has played the most number of ODI matches in the last four years, which could provide them with a significant advantage heading into the World Cup.
ODIs played since the 2019 World Cup:
| Matches Played | Team | Matches Played | Team |
| 54 | India | 36 | Australia/England |
| 47 | Papua New Guinea/ West Indies | 35 | South Africa |
| 44 | Nepal/UAE | 33 | Zimbabwe |
| 42 | USA | 32 | Ireland |
| 41 | Namibia | 31 | New Zealand |
| 39 | Bangladesh/ Sri Lanka | 26 | Netherlands |
| 38 | Scotland | 23 | Pakistan |
| 37 | Oman | 18 | Afghanistan |
It is imperative for the PCB to prioritize the ODI format and provide its players with sufficient opportunities to hone their skills in the format before the World Cup. A well-balanced approach across all formats is crucial for the team’s success, and the PCB must address this issue to ensure that the team is adequately prepared for the challenges ahead.
PBC was busy in internal politics and sucking up funds while the team is suffering
They must send Pakistan Cricket Team to Bangladesh & Sri Lanka to play 5 matches ODI series with them in their conditions
Invite WI & Zim. It will boost egos of star batsmen then we can cry after world cup that we were under prepared
Poor from PCB for not arranging sufficient ODI matches for Team Pakistan.
Not good stance from PCB at all, now Pakistan should play odis this year as much as possible and should focus the most on them
Everyone knows if pakistan cricket team play 20 or 25 odi in one year they will break all records… so icc scared to give pakistan more matches