Pakistan national cricket team facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Pakistan

Nickname(s)	Shaheens (lit. Falcons) Green Shirts Men in Green Cornered Tigers
Association	Pakistan Cricket Board
Personnel
Test captain	Shan Masood
One Day captain	Mohammad Rizwan
T20I captain	Mohammad Rizwan
Test coach	Jason Gillespie
Fielding coach	Muhammad Masroor
Manager	Naveed Akram Cheema
History
Test status acquired	1952
Hong Kong Sixes wins	5
International Cricket Council
ICC status	Full Member (1952)
ICC region	ACC
ICC Rankings Current Best-ever Test 7th 1st (1 August 1988) ODI 3rd 1st (1 December 1990) T20I 7th 1st (1 November 2017)
Tests
First Test	v  India at the Feroz Shah Kotla Ground, Delhi; 16–18 October 1952
Last Test	v  England at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi; 24–26 October 2024
Tests Played Won/Lost Total 461 150/145 (166 draws) This year 6 2/4 (0 draws)
World Test Championship appearances	2 (first in 2021)
Best result	6th place (2021)
One Day Internationals
First ODI	v  New Zealand at Lancaster Park, Christchurch; 11 February 1973
Last ODI	v  Zimbabwe at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo; 24 November 2024
ODIs Played Won/Lost Total 974 514/430 (9 ties, 21 no results) This year 4 2/2 (0 ties, 0 no results)
World Cup appearances	12 (first in 1975)
Best result	Champions (1992)
Twenty20 Internationals
First T20I	v  England at the Bristol County Ground, Bristol; 28 August 2006
Last T20I	v  Australia at Bellerive Oval, Hobart; 18 November 2024
T20Is Played Won/Lost Total 248 142/95 (4 ties, 7 no results) This year 22 7/13 (1 tie, 1 no result)
T20 World Cup appearances	8 (first in 2007)
Best result	Champions (2009)
Test kit ODI kit T20I kit
As of 24 November 2024

The Pakistan national cricket team is a famous sports team that plays for Pakistan in international cricket matches. They are known as the "Shaheens" (Falcons) or "Green Shirts." The team is managed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and is a full member of the International Cricket Council (ICC). Pakistan competes in different types of cricket games: Test, One Day International (ODI), and Twenty20 International (T20). They have won several major trophies, including the ICC World Cup in 1992 and the T20 World Cup in 2009. They also won the ICC Champions Trophy in 2017.

Pakistan became a Test-playing nation in 1952. They became very strong in the 1980s and have continued to be a top team. The team is known for being talented but sometimes unpredictable. Cricket matches between India and Pakistan are always very exciting!

For a while, Pakistan couldn't host international cricket matches at home due to safety concerns. They played their "home" games in the United Arab Emirates. But since 2016, international cricket has returned to Pakistan, thanks to better security. This also happened around the time the Pakistan Super League started, which is a popular T20 league.

History of Pakistan Cricket

A cricket match between Sindh and Australia in Karachi in 1935.

Cricket was played in the region that is now Pakistan even before the country was formed in 1947. The first international cricket match in Karachi took place on November 22, 1935. It was between a local team from Sindh and an Australian team. About 5,000 people watched the game!

After Pakistan became independent in 1947, cricket quickly grew. Pakistan was given "Test match" status on July 28, 1952, after India suggested it. This meant Pakistan could play the longest form of the game. The first captain of the Pakistan national cricket team was Abdul Hafeez Kardar.

Pakistan's first Test match was in Delhi, India, in October 1952. They lost that series 2–1. In 1954, Pakistan toured England and drew the series 1–1. Fast bowler Fazal Mahmood was a star, taking 12 wickets in one match. Pakistan's first home Test match was against India in January 1955 in Dacca (now Bangladesh). All five matches in that series were drawn, which was a first in Test history!

The Pakistan team is known for having very talented players. Sometimes their performance can be a bit up and down. The rivalry between India and Pakistan in cricket is very exciting. Matches between these two teams often fill stadiums and create an amazing atmosphere. Pakistani fans, especially those living in the United Kingdom, are very supportive. They have a fan club called the "Stani Army" that cheers loudly at matches.

Test Cricket Journeys

Pakistan's first Test match was in October 1952 against India. They lost the first game. But just seven days later, they made a great comeback! In the second Test, Pakistan bowled India out for only 106 runs. Then, Hanif Mohammad scored 124 runs, helping Pakistan win by a huge margin. Fazal Mahmood was amazing, taking 12 wickets in that match.

In 1954, Pakistan toured England and drew the series. Then, in 1955, New Zealand visited Pakistan. Pakistan won their first ever Test series against New Zealand by 2–0.

In 1956, Australia toured Pakistan for one Test match. Pakistan won it! They bowled Australia out for just 80 runs in their first innings. Again, Fazal Mahmood was the star, taking 13 wickets in the match.

In 1958, Pakistan visited the West Indies. In one match, Hanif Mohammad played an incredible innings. He scored 337 runs and batted for 970 minutes! This helped Pakistan save the match after a tough start.

Success in the 1980s and 1990s

From 1970 to 1979, Pakistan's Test performance was not the best. But in the 1980s, they improved a lot. They won 9 out of 21 Test series. In 1987, Pakistan played a thrilling series in India. The final match was very close, and Pakistan won by 16 runs. In 1988, Pakistan was ranked the No.1 Test team in the world, which was a huge achievement!

The 1990s were even better for Pakistan in Test cricket. They won more than half of their series. A big moment was winning the first Asian Test Championship in 1999, where they beat Sri Lanka in the final.

21st Century Test Cricket

In 2002, Pakistan reached the final of the Asian Test Championship again but lost to Sri Lanka.

A big event happened in 2006 during a Test series in England. The umpires decided that Pakistan had changed the condition of the ball unfairly. They gave England penalty runs. The Pakistan team then refused to continue playing after tea. Because of this, the umpires declared that Pakistan had given up the game. The result was later changed to a draw, and then back to the original result.

Misbah-ul-Haq's Leadership

After some changes in the team, Misbah ul Haq became the new captain of Pakistan's Test team. Many people wondered if he would do well. But former coach Geoff Lawson believed Misbah was very smart and would be a great leader.

Misbah proved them right! In his first series as captain, Pakistan drew 0–0 against South Africa in 2010. They then won a series in New Zealand. They also won against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

One of the most amazing moments under Misbah's captaincy was when Pakistan beat England 3–0 in a series in the UAE in 2012. England was the No.1 team at the time! The Pakistan coach, Mohsin Khan, said it felt like winning the 1992 World Cup.

In 2014, Pakistan had another great performance. They beat Australia 2–0 in a Test series in the UAE. In one match, Misbah scored a century in just 56 balls, which was one of the fastest ever!

Under Misbah, Pakistan also won a Test series in Sri Lanka for the first time in 9 years. They also beat England 2–0 in the UAE, which helped them climb to No.2 in the Test rankings.

Reaching No.1 in Tests

In 2016, Pakistan became the No.1 Test team in the world! This was after they drew a series 2–2 in England. It was the first time they were ranked No.1 since the ranking system started. They even received a special trophy called the Test mace in Lahore.

After this, Pakistan had some tough times, losing series in New Zealand and Australia. Misbah-ul-Haq and Younus Khan retired from Test cricket after a historic series win in the West Indies in 2017. It was Pakistan's first ever Test series win in the Caribbean! Sarfaraz Ahmed then became the new captain.

White Ball Cricket (ODIs and T20Is)

1986 Austral-Asia Cup: Champions!

In 1986, Pakistan won the Austral-Asia Cup in Sharjah, UAE. It was a thrilling final against their rivals, India. Javed Miandad became a national hero. India set a target of 245 runs. Pakistan needed 4 runs off the very last ball. Miandad hit a six off Chetan Sharma's delivery to win the match!

1992 Cricket World Cup: Champions!

Pakistani opener Yasir Hameed playing against Australia at Lord's in England

The 1992 Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand was Pakistan's first World Cup victory. The team was led by an injured captain, Imran Khan. Pakistan had a tough start, losing 3 of their first 5 matches. They were almost out of the tournament after being bowled out for only 74 runs against England, but rain saved them!

Imran Khan told his team to play like "cornered tigers." This inspired them to win five matches in a row, including the semi-final against New Zealand and the final against England. In the semi-final, a young Inzamam-ul-Haq played an amazing innings, scoring 60 runs off just 37 balls to help Pakistan win.

2007 Cricket World Cup Challenges

The 2007 Cricket World Cup was a big surprise for Pakistan. They were knocked out early after losing to Ireland, who were playing in their first World Cup. Pakistan needed to win but were bowled out for only 132 runs. Ireland won the match, and Pakistan was out of the tournament.

Sadly, the team's coach, Bob Woolmer, passed away the next day. This was a very difficult time for the team. After the World Cup, captain Inzamam-ul-Haq resigned and retired from one-day cricket. Shoaib Malik became the new captain.

2009 ICC World T20: Champions!

Shahid Afridi batting against Sri Lanka in the ICC World Twenty20 Final at Lord's in England

In 2009, Pakistan won the ICC World T20 in England! In the final at Lord's, Sri Lanka batted first and scored 138 runs. Pakistan chased the target easily, winning in 18.4 overs. Shahid Afridi was the star, hitting the winning runs and being named Man of the Match. This was Pakistan's first world title since the 1992 World Cup. Afridi said the team was very motivated because of everything happening in Pakistan.

Recent White Ball Cricket

Pakistan reached the semi-finals of the 2010 and 2012 T20 World Cups. In the 2011 World Cup, they also reached the semi-finals. A highlight was beating Australia, ending their 27-game winning streak in World Cups! Pakistan lost to India in a close semi-final match.

In the 2015 World Cup, Pakistan started with losses to India and West Indies. But they bounced back, winning their next four games to reach the quarter-finals. They lost to Australia in a thrilling match. This was the last ODI for captain Misbah-ul-Haq and star all-rounder Shahid Afridi.

After 2015, Azhar Ali became the ODI captain. Pakistan had some tough series but also some good wins, like beating Sri Lanka away from home.

2017 ICC Champions Trophy: Champions!

The 2017 Champions Trophy started with a big loss to India. But Pakistan's bowling improved a lot, and they won against South Africa and Sri Lanka. This led to a semi-final against the strong host team, England. Pakistan won that match, with Hasan Ali taking 3 wickets.

In the final, Pakistan played India again. India won the toss and decided to bowl first. But Pakistan's batsmen played brilliantly! Fakhar Zaman scored his first ever ODI century (114 runs). Azhar Ali and Mohammad Hafeez also made big contributions, helping Pakistan reach a huge total of 338 runs.

India's top batsmen were quickly out, thanks to amazing bowling from Mohammad Amir. India couldn't reach the target, and Pakistan won by 180 runs! This was Pakistan's first Champions Trophy win. Hasan Ali was named player of the tournament. After this victory, Pakistan moved up in the world rankings.

Pakistan 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. In 2023, Pakistan played two international matches on the same day! They played Afghanistan in the Asian Games and Netherlands in the World Cup.

Governing Body: PCB

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is in charge of all cricket played in Pakistan and by the national team. It joined the International Cricket Council in 1953. The PCB organizes major domestic competitions like the Pakistan Super League, which is very popular.

Tournament History

A red box around the year means the tournament was played in Pakistan.

ICC World Test Championship

ICC Cricket World Cup

World Cup record
Year	Round	Position	GP	W	L	T	NR	Squad
1975	Group Stage	5/8	3	1	2	0	0	Squad
1979	Semi-finals	3/8	4	2	2	0	0	Squad
1983	Semi-finals	4/8	7	3	4	0	0	Squad
1987	Semi-finals	4/8	7	5	2	0	0	Squad
1992	Champions	1/9	10	6	3	0	1	Squad
1996	Quarter-finals	6/12	6	4	2	0	0	Squad
1999	Runners-up	2/12	10	6	4	0	0	Squad
2003	Group Stage	10/14	6	2	3	0	1	Squad
2007	Group Stage	10/16	3	1	2	0	0	Squad
2011	Semi-finals	3/14	8	6	2	0	0	Squad
2015	Quarter-finals	6/14	7	4	3	0	0	Squad
2019	Group Stage	5/10	9	5	3	0	1	Squad
2023	Group Stage	5/10	9	4	5	0	0	Squad
2027	To be announced
2031
Total	13/13	1 Title	89	49	37	0	3

ICC T20 World Cup

T20 World Cup record
Year	Round	Position	GP	W	L	T	NR	Squad
2007	Runners-up	2/12	7	5	1	1	0	Squad
2009	Champions	1/12	7	5	2	0	0	Squad
2010	Semi-finals	4/12	6	2	4	0	0	Squad
2012	Semi-finals	4/12	6	4	2	0	0	Squad
2014	Super 10	5/16	4	2	2	0	0	Squad
2016	Super 10	7/16	4	1	3	0	0	Squad
2021	Semi-finals	3/16	6	5	1	0	0	Squad
2022	Runners-up	2/16	7	4	3	0	0	Squad
2024	Group Stage	11/20	4	2	1	1	0	Squad
2026	To be announced
2028
2030
Total	9/9	1 Title	51	30	19	2	0

ICC Champions Trophy

Known as the ’ICC Knockout’ in 1998 and 2000

Champions Trophy record
Year	Round	Position	GP	W	L	T	NR	Squad
1998	Quarter-finals	5/9	1	0	1	0	0	Squad
2000	Semi-finals	3/11	2	1	1	0	0	Squad
2002	Group Stage	5/12	2	1	1	0	0	Squad
2004	Semi-finals	4/12	3	2	1	0	0	Squad
2006	Group Stage	8/10	3	1	2	0	0	Squad
2009	Semi-finals	3/8	4	2	2	0	0	Squad
2013	Group Stage	8/8	3	0	3	0	0	Squad
2017	Champions	1/8	5	4	1	0	0	Squad
2025	Qualified
2029	To be announced
Total	8/8	1 Title	23	11	12	0	0

ACC Asia Cup

Asia Cup record
Year	Round	Position	GP	W	L	T	NR
1984	Group stage	3/3	2	0	2	0	0
1986	Runners-up	2/3	3	2	1	0	0
1988	Group stage	3/4	3	1	2	0	0
1990–91	Did not participate
1995	Group Stage	3/4	3	2	1	0	0
1997			3	1	1	0	1
2000	Champions	1/4	4	4	0	0	0
2004	Super Fours	3/6	5	4	1	0	0
2008			5	3	2	0	0
2010	Group stage	3/4	3	1	2	0	0
2012	Champions	1/4	4	3	1	0	0
2014	Runners-up	2/5	5	3	2	0	0
2016	Group Stage	3/5	4	2	2	0	0
2018	Super Fours	3/6	5	2	3	0	0
2022	Runners-up	2/6	6	3	3	0	0
2023	Super Fours	4/6	5	2	2	0	1
2025	Qualified
Total	15/16	2 Titles	60	33	25	0	2

Other Important Tournaments

Honours and Trophies

ICC Trophies

• 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 Trophies (Asian Cricket Council)

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

Other Awards

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

International Cricket Grounds in Pakistan

Pakistan Women's Cricket Team

The Pakistan women's cricket team is also an important part of Pakistan's cricket world. They started playing in 1997, touring New Zealand and Australia. They later played in the World Cup and the Women's Asia Cup. In 2009, they finished 6th in the T20 England World Cup, beating Sri Lanka and South Africa.

Team Colors and Logos

In Test matches, the team wears white uniforms. For colder weather, they might wear a green and gold sweater. Their main sponsor, Pepsi, has its logo on the chest. The team's logo is a star, usually gold or green, with the word "Pakistan" (پاکِستان) written in Urdu.

Records and Achievements

Overall Match Results

Amazing Batting Records

Fantastic Bowling Records

Images for kids

• 

  Pakistan's Women's T20 Cricket team.

See also

In Spanish: Selección de críquet de Pakistán para niños

• Cricket in Pakistan
• India–Pakistan cricket rivalry
• Pakistan national women's cricket team
• Pakistan Super League
• List of Pakistan Test cricketers
• List of Pakistan ODI cricketers
• List of Pakistan Twenty20 International cricketers