Pakistan

Pakistan Schedule

The upcoming Pakistan cricket schedule looks busy for a month or so. They are currently in New Zealand to play 3-match T20I series and a 2-match Test series. They have already lost the T20Is series by a margin of 1-2 and the first Test to New Zealand. The second Test match is currently in progress with New Zealand firmly in control of the match. The absence of Babar Azam is hurting them as he is sitting out injured and is one of the prime batsmen for Pakistan.

In the next series, scheduled to begin on 26th January, South Africa will travel to Pakistan after completing the home series against Sri Lanka. The tour will start with Karachi’s first Test match followed by the second Test at Rawalpindi starting on 4th February.

The Test series will be followed by 3 T20Is the last of which will be played on 14th February in Lahore. Before they embark on a journey to Travel to Zimbabwe in April to play a couple of Tests followed by 3 T20 internationals, Pakistan will have a breather.

Pakistan vs India

Pakistan played their first-ever Test match against India back in 1952. Since then, these two teams have played 199 international matches across format – third most for Pakistan against a single opposition – with Pakistan winning 86 matches and losing 70.

Pakistan and India have not played Tests since 2007 due to the political tension between the two countries. Until 2007, they played 59 Test with Pakistan winning 12 and losing 9 while a big chunk of it – 38 Tests – were drawn. In 1970 and 1980 there were more draws than results as nobody wanted to lose to the arch-rivals. In the 132 ODIs they have played so far, Pakistan have won 73 while lost 55 with 4 no-results. Although, Pakistan are still waiting for their first win in the ODI World Cup against India.

India and Pakistan have played just 8 T20Is including the 2007 World T20 final which Pakistan lost. That was the game for the ages. These two teams were also involved in the first and only bowl-out in T20I history. Another memorable encounter is in ODIs when Javed Miandad hit Chetan Sharma for a six needing 4 off the last delivery in Sharjah in 1986 Austral-Asia cup final. Then there was the 1999 Chennai Test which Pakistan won by 12 runs by when it looked like Sachin Tendulkar would take it away after making a fine century. Sadly, this sporting rivalry can only be seen rarely in World events now.

Pakistan vs New Zealand

Pakistan and New Zealand history go as far back as 1955. They have played 59 Tests so far with New Zealand winning 25 and lost 12 while drawing 21 Tests. In their first 3-match Test series Pakistan defeated New Zealand by a margin of 2-0. In the 107 ODIs since 1973 between Pakistan and New Zealand, Pakistan have won 55 while lost 48 ODIs. There was a tie as well while 3 matches ended in no result. In T20Is as well Pakistan have a good record against New Zealand with 14 wins and 10 losses in 24 T20Is – the most by Pakistan against a single team.

Pakistan lost the recent T20Is series against New Zealand and are on the verge of losing the 2-match Test series as well. They met in the last ODI World Cup where Pakistan defeated the eventual finalists comfortably by Six wickets.

The encounter between Pakistan and New Zealand in the 1992 World Cup semi-final was one for the ages. Pakistan, somehow reaching the semi-final, were up against New Zealand – the team of that World Cup so far. Chasing a target of 263 Pakistan looked down and out until Inzamam-ul-Haq counter-attacked with a 37-ball 63 and helped Pakistan reach the final which they eventually won.

Pakistan vs South Africa

Pakistan have the worst overall win percentage against South Africa; more so in Tests. They have played 119 international games among themselves with Pakistan winning just 38 while losing 73 of them. Seven matches ended in a draw and one resulted in no-result. In Tests, the numbers are even worse for Pakistan with 4 wins in 26 Tests – 15 losses and 7 draws. In ODIs, the situation is the same with just 35% wins in 79 matches. Also, in the 14 T20Is between these two teams, Pakistan won 6 while South Africa won 8 matches.

The last match between Pakistan and South Africa happened in the 2019 ODI World Cup in England. It was a league match that Pakistan won by 49 runs after setting 309 to win for South Africa. In their last tour to South Africa in February 2019, Pakistan lost the 3-match T20I series 2-1 and lost the 5-match ODI series as well 2-3 to South Africa.

Pakistan have historically found it harder to tackle the South African Challenge. Pakistan will be hosting South Africa after 14 years in January 2021 for 3 T20Is and 2 Tests.

Pakistan vs Bangladesh

Pakistan cricket team first played Bangladesh in 1986 Asia cup where they skittled Bangladesh for meagre 94 runs. Since then, Pakistan have played 60 international matches against Bangladesh winning a hefty chunk of 52 matches. Pakistan have never lost a Test match against Bangladesh. They have 10 wins in 11 Tests with 1 draw. Pakistan have lost just 5 of the total 37 ODIs played with Bangladesh So far. With 10 wins in 12 T20Is Pakistan have a pretty good record against Bangladesh in the shortest format.

These two teams last played in Feb 2020 where Pakistan won the 2-match T20I series 2-0 and it up with a win in the solitary Test match. In the 2019 World Cup, Pakistan defeated Bangladesh in a league match by 94 runs after setting a target of 316 to win.

Although Pakistan being a superior team has always had the upper hand against Bangladesh, their defeat in the 1999 ODI World Cup is the most discussed. Bangladesh won that match by 62 runs after getting Pakistan out for just 161 defending 224. It was Pakistan’s first defeat against Bangladesh.

Pakistan vs West Indies

Pakistan have been playing with the West Indies since 1958. Though West Indies won that 5-match series 3-1, Pakistan was able to defeat them in the last Test by an innings. Since then, Pakistan have played 200 international matches – the most after Sri Lanka – against West Indies winning and losing exactly 91 matches with 15 draws and 3 ties. Pakistan have been slightly better in Tests with 20 wins and 17 losses in 52 Tests so far. However, West Indies have had the upper hand in ODIs with 71 wins compared to 60 wins for Pakistan. In T20Is, Pakistan have been much better with 11 wins and 3 losses in 14 T20Is.

In their last encounter in the 2019 ICC ODI World Cup, Pakistan had to endure an embarrassing defeat by 7 wickets with more than 36 overs remaining after getting bowled out for just 105. Before they played a 3 match T20I series against West Indies at home winning it by 3-0.

The first-ever Test match between the two sides saw one of finest innings by Hanif Mohammed in a match-saving cause. After the first innings, Hanif batted for a marathon 970 minutes and scored 337 runs to help Pakistan draw the Test.

Pakistan vs Sri Lanka

Pakistan have played the most number of matches (231) against Sri Lanka. These two teams have been playing with each other since the first ODI World Cup in 1975. Pakistan won that match by a whopping 192 runs. Pakistan have won 125 of the 231 games between the teams. In Tests, Pakistan won 20 and lost 16 Tests out of the 55 while drawing 19 of them. In ODIs, Pakistan have been much better with 92 wins and 58 losses in 155 ODIs. In T20Is, Pakistan played 21 matches with Sri Lanka winning 13 and losing 8.

Pakistan played Sri Lanka in a 2-match Test series at home in December 2019 and won it by 1-0. In one of the most memorable encounters between the two teams, Shahid Afridi scored a century off just 37 deliveries – then a record – with 11 sixes at Nairobi. Pakistan piled up 371 in that match and eventually won it by 82 runs.

Pakistan vs Australia

Pakistan’s history with Australia goes back to 1956. Since then, these two have played 193 international matches across format with Pakistan winning about 30% of the matches. In the 66 Tests played so far, Pakistan have won 15, lost 33 and drew 18. They have a second-lowest winning percentage in Tests against Australia after South Africa. The numbers in ODIs are similar with 30% wins in the 104 ODIs played against Australia. However, Pakistan have been better in T20Is. They have won 12 matches out the 23 played so far against Australia with 9 losses, 1 tied match and 1 no-result.

Pakistan last played Australia in the 2-match Test series away from home as a part of World Test Championship. Pakistan ended up losing both the Tests to Australia. On the same tour, they lost 2 of the 3 T20Is. In the league stage of the 2019 World Cup, Pakistan fell short by 41 runs while chasing 308 against Australia.

Pakistan’s victory over Australia in the 1978 Test match at Melbourne is regarded as one of their greatest against the Aussies. Australia were 3 for 304 runs chasing 382 in the fourth innings. Sarfaraz Nawaz then took 7 wickets conceding just 1 run and helped Pakistan to one of their greatest victories against Australia.

Pakistan vs England

Pakistan and England have been playing since the year 1954 and have played a total of 192 international matches with Pakistan winning 58 and losing 90 to England. In Tests, Pakistan have 21 wins and 26 losses with 39 draws in 86 matches so far. In ODIs, they have 32 wins and 53 losses with 3 no-results in 88 matches. In T20Is, Pakistan have just 5 wins compared to 11 losses with 1 tie and 1 no-result in 18 T20Is.

In their last Test series, as a part of the World Test Championship (WTC), England won the 3-match series 1-0. Earlier Pakistan drew the 3-match T20I series 1-1 away from home. In 2019 World Cup, Pakistan defeated England by 14 runs after scoring 348 batting first.

The most memorable encounter between these two teams is the most celebrated match in Pakistan’s history. It was the final of the 1992 World Cup where Pakistan defeated England by 22 runs to lift their first-ever ODI World Cup.fo