- Captains: Shan Masood (Test), Babar Azam (ODI, T20I)
- Coaches: Jason Gillespie (Test head coach), Gary Kirsten (ODI and T20I head coach), Azhar Mahmood (assistant coach), Simon Helmot (fielding coach)
- First international match: 1952
- Cricket board: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)
- ICC titles: 3
History of Pakistan Men’s Cricket Team
Cricket came to Pakistan through British rule. When Pakistan became independent in 1947, much of the cricket setup was inherited from the British. Pakistan played their first Test match in 1952 against India and won their second Test match in that same series. However, it was in 1954, when Pakistan surprised everyone by beating England at The Oval, that they became known in the cricket world.
Some of Pakistan’s most famous players from those early years include Abdul Hafeez Kardar (their first captain), fast bowler Fazal Mahmood, and batter Hanif Mohammad. But it was in the 1980s that Pakistan truly became a global cricket force. Led by their legendary captain, Imran Khan, Pakistan had one of their best Test teams ever. In 1992, under Imran Khan’s leadership, Pakistan won the Cricket World Cup in what was his last tournament before retiring.
The 1990s were both exciting and controversial for Pakistan cricket. Pakistan had one of the strongest fast-bowling attacks in the world, with Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis excelling in pace and swing, while Shoaib Akhtar was known as the fastest bowler in the world. Pakistan reached the final of the 1999 World Cup, but during that decade, match-fixing allegations surfaced. Several players, including Wasim and Waqar, faced punishment for breaking anti-corruption rules, and Salim Malik was banned for life. In 2010, three more players were banned and went to prison for spot-fixing in England.
Pakistan’s performance has been inconsistent over the years, with highs and lows. They had disappointing World Cup exits in 2003 and 2007, but in 2009, they won the T20 World Cup. In 2017, they beat their biggest rivals, India, in the final of the Champions Trophy. In 2016, they briefly became the top-ranked Test team in the world. Despite the ups and downs, both on the field and in the cricket board, Pakistan remains one of the most thrilling cricket teams to watch.
Pakistan Men’s Cricket Team Current Ranking
| Format | Rank |
|---|---|
| Tests | 8 |
| ODIs | 4 |
| T20Is | 7 |
Pakistan Cricket Team Trophies and Milestones
| Year | Achievement | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1952 | First Test match win | Lucknow |
| 1954 | First Test win in England | The Oval |
| 1955 | First home Test win & series win | Karachi & New Zealand |
| 1986 | Austral-Asia Cup win | Sharjah |
| 1989 | Nehru Cup win | Kolkata |
| 1992 | ODI World Cup win | Melbourne |
| 2009 | T20 World Cup win | Lord’s |
| 2017 | Champions Trophy win | The Oval |
