Pakistan Cricket Team - A Force to be Reckoned With

Are you a cricket fanatic? If yes, then you probably know a good deal about many international cricket teams, including Pakistan and some of their key strengths. If no, or if you’re more clued up on England or county teams, or occasionally dabble in the game rather than being an expert in the field (or pitch should we say), then we have everything you need to know about Pakistan to help you sound like a pro.

A dive into the history books

Cricket in Pakistan dates back to 1935 and they’ve had a national team representing the country since 1952, when they also gained Test match status. Over this time, they have produced great players, however their unpredictable play on the pitch is both positive and negative for them. The Pakistan women’s team played their first major match in 1997 during their tour of New Zealand and Australia and went on to compete in the World Cup later that year. 

How do they shape up in the rankings?

Pakistan’s men’s team became the number one Test team in 2016 after their English tour, the first time gaining this title since the ranking system began. They’re currently ranked sixth in Test cricket, first in ODI cricket and third in the IT20 format (as of 6 Sept 2023, ICC). Pakistan’s current captain for all men’s formats, Babar Azam, holds the top spot in the ODI batting rankings, and fourth in Test cricket, just falling behind England’s Joe Root. He’s regarded as one of the greatest batters in contemporary cricket. Pakistan’s team are known for their unpredictable nature, unconventional tactics and innovative gameplay, making them extremely exciting to watch!

The men’s ICC World Cup success came when they won their first trophy in 1992 and have since won the Asia Cup in 2000 and 2012, the T20 World Cup in 2009 and the ICC Champions Trophy in 2017. With the men’s ICC ODI Cricket World Cup just around the corner (beginning on 5 October 2023 in India), Pakistan is strongly positioned to make an impact on the World Cup stage. Recent consistent success in major competitions and a talented squad has increased belief that Pakistan could just have what it takes to emerge victorious – however only time will tell. 

So, what is an IT20?

An IT20 is a higher status version of the Twenty20 standard of cricket, played between international members of the International Cricket Council (ICC). It’s a format of limited-overs cricket, where each team bats for a maximum of 20 overs in a single innings each. It originated in 2005 when Australia and New Zealand men went head-to-head. Pakistan have played a total of 220 IT20 matches, 134 of which have been wins. Discover more about the difference between test match and limited overs cricket here. 

England v Pakistan IT20 2024

Edgbaston will be hosting their first England v Pakistan IT20 in May 2024, with both a women’s and men’s fixture taking place. The women’s IT20 begins Edgbaston’s major match calendar on Saturday 11 May 2024, and the men’s following shortly after on Saturday 25 May. This clash will see the current IT20 World Cup winners and runners-up go head-to-head – you won’t want to miss it! 

The England and Pakistan men’s teams will also face each other at The Kia Oval in the IT20 on Thursday 30 May 2024, for more unmissable action.

Who to look out for in the IT20

Well, as we mentioned previously, Babar Azam is a key figure in the men’s game - being one of the greatest batters in cricket today. Azam made his debut onto the world stage in the 2019 ICC Men’s World Cup, and during the 2021 tour of England, led the team and scored a century at Edgbaston in the third ODI match of the series. Shaheen Afridi, aka The Eagle, is a devastating left-arm fast bowler, especially in T20 cricket. In the 2019 World Cup, he became the youngest bowler in a World Cup match to take a five-wicket haul.

As for the England men’s squad, in the England v New Zealand IT20 in September 2023, first international calls ups were given to Gus Atkinson from Surrey and Josh Turner from Hampshire. Warwickshire duo and all-rounders Chris Woakes and Moeen Ali are also strong forces to be reckoned with. 

Pakistan women will be captained by the recently appointed Nida Dar, who is the second all-time leading wicket taker with 126 in the IT20 format. Rising star Fatima Sana will also be a name to watch. As one of the younger female players from the country, she made her international debut in the ODI’s and IT20’s in 2019 and recently led the team in the ACE Emerging Women’s T20 Asia Cup – let’s see how they fare against England in May.

England women’s squad will benefit from the mighty Heather Knight who captains the side, who was the first woman and England player to score an international century in all three formats of cricket. 

We think the IT20s at Edgbaston will kick-start their 2024 major match days with a bang and will be a fantastic addition to The Kia Oval’s 2023 calendar. With hospitality experiences to suit a variety of needs, you can be sure to enjoy these fixtures in true cricket style!