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The Pakistan national cricket team, established in 1952, proudly represents the country on the international stage. The team has been overseen by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which is a Full Member of the International Cricket Council (ICC). Pakistan cricket team participates in Test, One Day International (ODI), and Twenty20 International (T20) formats.

Pakistan men’s team is the current ICC Champions Trophy holder. They were awarded Test status in 1952, following a recommendation from India. The men’s team clinched their first major international trophy, the ICC World Cup, in 1992, followed by the Asia Cup in 2000. They have also won the T20 World Cup in 2009, the Asia Cup in 2012, and the ICC Champions Trophy in 2017. Pakistan won the first Asian Test Championship in 1999 and also triumphed in the now-defunct ICC Test Championship in 2016.

Pakistan has hosted the 1987 and 1996 World Cups but international cricket ceased in the country after the 2009 attack on the Sri Lanka national team. Eventually, Pakistan’s one-day matches were played in the UAE until 2016 and Test matches until 2019. Notably, international cricket resumed in Pakistan in 2016, due to improved security conditions with the launch of the Pakistan Super League.

History

The first international match was held in Karachi on November 22, 1935, between the Sindh and Australian teams. Post-independence, cricket developed rapidly in Pakistan and the team was awarded Test match status on July 28, 1952. Abdul Hafeez Kardar was the first captain of the Pakistan national men’s cricket team.

Pakistan played their first Test match in Delhi in October 1952, during a series that India won 2–1. Their first home series was also against India in January 1955 at Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dacca (now Bangladesh). In a unique occurrence in Test history, all five matches in the series were drawn.

Later that year, New Zealand toured Pakistan for their first series. Pakistan secured their first Test series win by defeating the Kiwis 2–0, winning the first two Tests, with the final ending in a draw.

Performance during the 1970s till the 1990s

In the 1970s, Pakistan struggled to perform well, falling short of expectations. However, they made significant improvements in the following decade- 1980 to 1989. During a five-match series in India in 1987, which was Sunil Gavaskar’s last Test series, the first four matches ended in draws while Pakistan won the final match.

In 1988, following a drawn series against the West Indies, Pakistan was rated as the No. 1 Test team. Pakistan continued to excel in the following decade, which highlights their triumph at the Asian Test Championship in 1998.

21st century

In 2002, Pakistan participated in their second Asian Test Championship. Pakistan faced Sri Lanka in the final, where they were defeated by 8 wickets. During Pakistan’s 2006 tour of England for a four-match series a major controversy arose before the final Test. In that match, England were bowled out for 173 in their first innings, while Pakistan scored 504 in response. After Alastair Cook’s dismissal, umpires Darrell Hair and Billy Doctrove halted play, alleging ball tampering by Pakistan. Eventually, the ball was replaced, and England were awarded 5 penalty runs. Pakistan then refused to play after the tea and umpires declared that the tourists forfeited the game. However, the ICC later announced it as a draw, but on February 1, 2009, they reinstated the original result of a forfeit.

2010 spot-fixing scandal

Pakistan toured England from July 29 to September 22, 2010, participating in four Tests, two T20Is, and five ODIs. During the Test series, Pakistan lost the first two matches but bounced back and won the third match. During the final Test, controversy erupted when the British newspaper News of the World published allegations of spot-fixing involving Pakistani players.

The report claimed that an agent took a £150,000 bribe from undercover reporters to orchestrate bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amirdelivering no-balls at predetermined moments. Pakistan’s then-Test captain, Salman Butt, was identified as the mastermind behind the plan. On November 1, 2011, Asif, Amir, and Butt were found guilty of their involvement in the spot-fixing scandal, receiving prison sentences.

Under Misbah-ul-Haq

Following the controversy, Misbah ul Haq was appointed as the new captain of the Pakistan cricket team. In his first series as captain, Misbah drew the two-match Test series against South Africa 0–0 in the UAE. Pakistan then registered a 1-0 win in New Zealand and also achieved success against the West Indies and Zimbabwe, respectively.

Mishabh-led Pakistan notably whitewashed the then No. 1 ranked England in early 2012. After a few struggles in the following year, Pakistan achieved a historic whitewash against Australia in a two-match Test series. Misbah achieved an individual milestone, equaling the record for the fastest Test century off 56 balls in the second Test. Later, he became Pakistan’s most successful Test captain with 15 wins, surpassing the records of Imran Khan and Javed Miandad, after a draw against New Zealand.

Under his leadership, Pakistan also secured a historic victory in Sri Lanka, marking their first Test series win there in nine years. In another series against England in the UAE, Pakistan won 2–0 and climbed to No. 2 in the Test rankings after a nine-year gap.

Rise to No.1 in Tests

In 2016, Pakistan achieved the No. 1 Test team ranking after drawing a series against England 2–2. Regrettably, their reign at the top was short-lived. After their tour of the West Indies, Misbah and Younus Khan retired, with the captaincy passing to Sarfaraz Ahmed.

White ball cricket (ODIs and T20Is)

1986 Austral-Asia Cup (Champions)

Pakistan clinched the 1986 Austral-Asia Cup, held in Sharjah, UAE, featuring a dramatic last-ball victory against India.

1992 Cricket World Cup (Champions)

During the 1992 Cricket World Cup, Pakistan lost three of their first five matches. They faced near elimination in the tournament after being bowled out for just 74 runs against England but the match was declared a “no result” due to rain. Pakistan went on to win the next five matches, including the semi-final against New Zealand and the final against England. The 1992 World Cup held in Australia and New Zealand marked Pakistan’s first World Cup victory.

2007 Cricket World Cup

Pakistan suffered a major upset in the 2007 World Cup as they were eliminated in the group stage, losing to Ireland.  One day later, tragedy struck the team when coach Bob Woolmer died in a hospital in Kingston, Jamaica. Following investigations, the Pakistan team was cleared of any suspicion in Woolmer’s death. Later, Pakistan reached the final of the 2007 ICC World Twenty20 but finished as runners-up after losing to India in the final.

2009 ICC World T20 (Champions)

Pakistan clinched the 2009 ICC World T20 final against Sri Lanka at Lord’s Cricket Ground. Tillakaratne Dilshan was named Man of the Series after emerging as the top-scorer of the tournament with 317 runs.

2010 ICC World T20 (Semi-finalists)

In the 2010 World T20, Pakistan reached the semi-finals, competing in Group A alongside Australia and Bangladesh. After a defeat against Australia in the semi-final, Pakistan failed to defend their title.

2011 Cricket World Cup and 2012 ICC World T20- (Semi-finalists)

In the 2011 Cricket World Cup, Pakistan dominated the West Indies in the quarter-final, winning by 10 wickets. Pakistan faced off arch-rivals India in the semi-final but fell short by 29 runs.

Meanwhile, in the 2012 ICC World T20, Pakistan topped Group D by defeating New Zealand and Bangladesh. After a win over Australia in the Super 8, they qualified for the semi-finals. Regrettably, Pakistan lost to Sri Lanka by 16 runs in the semi-final and was eventually knocked out of the tournament.

2014 ICC World T20 and 2015 Cricket World Cup  

In the 2014 ICC World T20, Pakistan had a disappointing campaign, finishing third in Group 2 and failing to qualify for the semi-finals.

Meanwhile, Pakistan started poorly in the 2015 Cricket World Cup, losing to India by 76 runs. They advanced to the quarter-finals but a defeat against Australia saw them eliminated. 

2017 ICC Champions Trophy (Champions)

Pakistan began their 2017 Champions Trophy campaign with a heavy defeat to India by 124 runs. However, they bounced back with victories against South Africa and Sri Lanka, securing a semi-final spot against England. In the semi-final, Pakistan emerged victorious and set up a rematch with India. Pakistan registered a commanding 180-run win in the final, marking their first Champions Trophy win.

In 2019, they participated in the ODI World Cup and finished fifth in the group stage. They then reached the semi-finals of the 2021 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and the finals of the 2022 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup but lost to England. In 2022, Pakistan competed in the Asian Games in China and finished fourth. They participated in the 2023 ODI World Cup in India, finishing 5th, losing 5 out of 9 matches.

Honours

ICC

• World Cup:
  • Champions (1): 1992
  • Runners-up (1): 1999
• T20 World Cup:
  • Champions (1): 2009
  • Runners-up (2): 2007, 2022
• Champions Trophy:
  • Champions (1): 2017

ACC

• Asia Cup:
  • Champions (2): 2000, 2012
  • Runners-up (3): 1986, 2014, 2022
• Asian Test Championship:
  • Champions (1): 1998–99
  • Runners-up (1): 2001–02

Others

• Asian Games
  • Bronze Medal (1): 2010
• South Asian Games
  • Bronze Medal (1): 2010

Pakistan women’s national cricket team

Pakistan women’s cricket team, also known as Women in Green, represents Pakistan in international women’s cricket, administered by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). The women’s team competes in the ICC Women’s Championship, the top tier of international women’s cricket.

History

1990s

The concept of women’s cricket in Pakistan was introduced by sisters Shaiza and Sharmeen Khan in 1996. Despite legal challenges and societal opposition, a women’s team was successfully formed. In 1997, the team was restricted from playing against India, but they made their international debut the same year. Later, they participated in the 1997 Women’s Cricket World Cup in India, finishing last after losing all five matches. In the following year, Pakistan toured Sri Lanka, where they lost all three ODIs and their first Test match.

2000s

In 2001, Pakistan women achieved their first international win against the Netherlands, triumphing in a seven-match ODI series 4–3. They participated in the inaugural IWCC Trophy in 2003 in the Netherlands, finishing fourth but failing to qualify for the 2005 Women’s Cricket World Cup.In 2005, Pakistan hosted the second Women’s Asia Cup, where the women’s team finished last.

Women’s Cricket World Cup 

Pakistan has played in five Women’s Cricket World Cups– 1997, 2009, 2013, 2017, and 2022. In 1997, they finished last in the tournament without winning any matches. Meanwhile, they achieved their first World Cup win in 2009 by defeating Sri Lanka and later finished sixth. They did not win any matches and finished at the bottom of their group tables in the 2013 and 2017 editions. They secured a win against West Indies in the 2022 World Cup, ending a 13-year losing streak, but still finished last in the group stage.

Women’s T20I World Cup

Pakistan has participated in all editions of the ICC Women’s World Cups. In the 2009 and 2010 tournaments, the team lost all their matches while registered a sole victory against India in the 2012 edition. In 2014, the team finished in 7th place.

Asia Cup

Pakistan did not participate in the inaugural Women’s Asia Cup in 2004–05. They hosted the second edition in 2005–06 but did not win any matches. They struggled in the third edition as well, losing all matches. In the 2008 tournament, they achieved their only victory against the then-debutants Bangladesh. In the 2012 edition, Pakistan reached the final but lost to India by 18 runs. B

Asian Games

Pakistan’s women’s cricket team won a gold medal in the inaugural tournament at the 2010 Asian Games in China. Pakistan captain Salma Khatun scored 24 runs as they defeated Bangladesh by 10 wickets in the final.

In the 2014 Asian Games, Pakistan women again defeated Bangladesh in the final by four runs in Incheon, South Korea. Meanwhile, in the 2022 edition, they lost the bronze medal match and finished 4th in the tournament.

Honours

ACC

• Women’s Asia Cup:
  • Runners-up (2): 2012, 2016

Others

• Asian Games
  • Gold Medal (2): 2010, 2014

Records

Women’s Test cricket

• Highest Team Total: 426/7 declared against West Indies on 15 March 2004 at National Stadium, Karachi.
• Highest Individual Score: 242 runs by Kiran Baluch against West Indies on 15 March 2004 at National Stadium, Karachi.
• Best Innings Bowling: 7 wickets for 59 runs by Shaiza Khan against West Indies on 15 March 2004 at National Stadium, Karachi.

Women’s One-Day International

• Highest Team Total: 335/3 against Ireland on 4 November 2022 at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.
• Highest Individual Score: 176* by Sidra Ameen against Ireland on 4 November 2022 at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.
• Best Innings Bowling: 7 wickets for 4 runs by Sajjida Shah against Japan on 21 July 2003 at Sportpark Drieburg, Amsterdam.

Women’s T20I cricket

• Highest Team Total: 177/5 against Malaysia on 7 June 2018 at Royal Selangor Club, Kuala Lumpur.
• Highest Individual Innings: 102 by Muneeba Ali against Ireland on 15 February 2023 at Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town.
• Best Innings Bowling: 5 wickets for 13 runs by Omaima Sohail against Sri Lanka on 11 October 2022 at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, Sylhet, Bangladesh.

International grounds

• Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
• National Bank Cricket Arena, Karachi
• Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
• Multan Cricket Stadium, Multan
• Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad
• Arbab Niaz Stadium, Peshawar
• Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad
• Jinnah Stadium (Gujranwala), Gujranwala
• Sheikhupura Stadium, Sheikhupura
• Jinnah Stadium, Sialkot
• Bagh-e-Jinnah, Lahore
• Ibn-e-Qasim Bagh Stadium, Multan
• Pindi Club Ground, Rawalpindi
• Southend Club Cricket Stadium, Karachi
• Bahawal Stadium, Bahawalpur
• Peshawar Club Ground, Peshawar
• Ayub National Stadium, Quetta
• Zafar Ali Stadium, Sahiwal
• Bugti Stadium, Quetta
• Sargodha Cricket Stadium, Sargodha