Pakistan National Cricket team

The Pakistani National cricket team is one the best cricket team. The team is controlled by the Pakistan Cricket Board. The team have many nicknames such as Shaheen, Cornered Tigers, Men in Green and Green Shirts. The current captain of the Pakistani team is Sarfraz Ahmed and the Coach is Mickey Arthur. In 1952 the Pakistani team became the member of the International Cricket Council. The team participates in many test matches, One Day International matches, and Twenty20 International cricket matches. In ICC ranking the Pakistani team currently holds the 7^th position for test matches,6^th position for One Day international matches and Ist for T20I matches. The team became the Champion of World Cup in 1992.The Pakistani team gives the best result and became the champion of  Twenty20 World Cup in 2009. The team has appeared in 2007 Twenty20 ICC World Cup and in 1975World Cup for the first time.

The team has appeared in 423 test matches won 136 matches,159 draw matches and lost in 128 test matches. In One Day International matches the team has played 917 matches won 479 matches,8 ties,20 matches with no results and lost in 410 matches. In T20I the team has appeared in 143 matches won 90 matches and lost 50 matches.

On 28 July 1952, the Pakistani team got the Test status and at Feroz Shah Kotla Ground, Dehli the team played its test debut against India.

History:

Before the creation of Pakistan cricket is popular in Pakistan. On 22 November 1935, there was a match played between Sindh and Australia in Karachi hence International cricket started in Pakistan for the first time. There was about 5000 spectators to watch the international match for the first time in Pakistan. Soon after the independence of Pakistan, the cricket became popular in the country.On 28 July 1952 after the meeting with the Imperial Cricket Conference at Lord’s in England Pakistan got the status of Test cricket.

Abdul Hafeez Kardar was nominated as the first captain of the Pakistani team. In Dehli, in October 1952 Pakistan played its first match against India but unfortunately, India won the match. In 1954 Pakistan had its first tour to England. Fast bowler Mohammad Fazal took 12 wickets and Pakistan had wonderful victory at the Oval but the series was drawn by 1-1. In January 1955 Pakistan played its first Test match against India at Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dacca, East Pakistan called now Bangladesh. It was the first test match of Pakistan at its home ground. The Pakistani team was talented but there was a lack of discipline which affects the performance of the team many times. The British Pakistanis of UK had founded a fan-club with the name of “Stani Army” in favor of Pakistani team.

Asia Cup:

In 1986 Pakistani team played 1986 Austral-Asia Cup against India. India scored 245-7runs, batted first and Sunil Gavaskar was the top scorer with 92 runs. In the Pakistani team, Javed  Miandad showed his marvelous performance with 116 runs not out. It was the most memorable performance of the Javed in one-day cricket history and he is still known as a national hero for his wonderful performance. Pakistani team scored 248-9 and won the match.

Cricket World Cup 1992:

The 1992 World Cup was held in Australia and New Zealand. In 1992 World Cup the former legend player Imran Khan was the captain of the team. Pakistani team showed marvelous performance under the captaincy of Imran Khan and became the Champion of the World Cup. Pakistani team lost in 3 matches and was about to eliminate from the tournament but the  Champions team beat England by 22 runs in the final match and won the title of World Cup. England scored 227 in 49.2 overs whereas Pakistani team scored 249 in 5 overs.

World Cup 2007:

The 2007 World Cup was the 9^th edition of the Cricket World Cup tournament which took place in the West Indies in 2007. Pakistani team was eliminated from the competition after defeat by  Ireland. In this World Cup was the serious upset situation raised for Pakistani team after the death of their coach Bob Woolmer. Assistant coach Mushtaq Ahmed was temporary nominated for the coach as replacement of Boob Woolmer. The defeat of team and death of Boob Woolmer seriously upset the captain Inzamam-ul-Haq and he announced his retirement from one-day cricket He decided to take part in Test cricket but not accepted his captaincy for the team.After his retirement Shoaib Malik was announced as captain of the team and Salman Butt as a vice-captain.2007 ICC World Cup Twenty20  Pakistani team remained as a runner up not the winner.

 ICC World Cup T20 2009:

On June 7,2009 Pakistan played a match against England in group B at Oval. England scored 185 runs in 20 overs and Pakistan scored 137 runs in 20 overs. England won the match by 48 runs. On  9 June 2009 Pakistan played a match against Netherland at Lord’s.Pakistan scored 175 runs and won the match whereas Netherland scored 93 runs in 17.3 overs. Pakistan won the match by 82 runs.In the 15^th match of World Cup Pakistan played Sri Lanka at Lord’s.Sri Lankan team scored 150/7 in 20 overs and Pakistan scored 131/9 in 20 overs. Sri Lankan team won the match by 19 runs.

On 13 June 2009, there was a match played between New Zealand and Pakistan. Pakistan won by 6 wickets scoring 100 runs. Pakistan played a match against Ireland on 15 June 2009 at Oval. Pakistan won the match by 39 runs and scored 159 runs whereas Ireland scored 120 runs. After playing very well in the previous matches Pakistan qualified for the Ist Semi The final match against South Africa. Pakistan scored 149 runs and South Africa scored 142 runs in 20 overs. Pakistan won by 7 runs. In the final match, Pakistan played against Sri Lanka on 21 June 2009 at Lord’s. Pakistan won the final by 8 wickets and scored 139 runs. Hence Pakistani team won the title of ICC World Cup T20 2009.

2010 ICC World T20:

Australia, Pakistan, and Bangladesh were included in group A.The 2010 World T20  was held in West Indies. Against Bangladesh, Pakistan won the first match by 21 runs. Salman Butt scored 73 runs and declared as the hero of the match. The second match was against Australia in which Australian team scored 191/10.Shane Watson scored 81 runs. Mohammad Amir bowled in the final over of Australian innings. Pakistan lost the matches against England and New Zealand. The only match which Pakistani team won was against South Africa. Overall Pakistan was unable to succeed in the 2010 ICC World T20.

2011 Cricket World Cup:

ICC Cricket World Cup held in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Pakistan defeated Australia and West Indies and became able to reach in the semi-finals on 30 March. Pakistan had its match with India.India scored 260 runs but Pakistan had 29 runs short so India reached the final and won the final by defeating Sri Lanka.

2012,2014 ICC World T20:

Pakistan was in Group D with New Zealand and Bangladesh in the 2012 edition of World T20 which was held in Sri Lanka. Pakistan played against South Africa and won the match by 2 wickets. Pakistan scored 136 runs in 19.4 overs and South Africa scored 133 in 20 overs. Pakistan won their last Super Eight match against Australia by 32 runs. In that match the performance of Saeed Ajmal was marvelous he took 3 wickets for 17 runs and Pakistan qualified for the semi-finals after superior run rate than India. In the semi-final, Pakistan played a match with Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan scored 139/4 in 20 overs and won the match whereas The Pakistani team scored 123/7 in 20 overs. Pakistan lost the match by 16 runs. Sri Lankan player Rangana Herath took wickets of Mohammad Hafeez, Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik.

2014 ICC World T20 was held in Bangladesh. Pakistan played its first group match with India in which India won the match by 7 wickets and scored 131 runs in 18.3 overs whereas Pakistan scored 130 in 20 overs. In the next match, Pakistan played against Australia. Pakistan scored 191 in 20 overs whereas Australia scored 175 runs in 20 overs. Pakistan won the match by 16 runs. In a match with Bangladesh Pakistan won the match by 50 runs whereas in a match with West Indies Pakistan lost the match by 84 runs. West Indies scored 166 runs in 20 overs. After losing the match against West Indies Pakistan was eliminated from the tournament.

2015 Cricket World Cup:

In 2015 Cricket World Cup Pakistan took a poor start by losing its first match against India by 76 runs. The next match of Pakistan was with West Indies. West Indies scored 310/6 in 50 overs and won the match by 150 runs. Pakistan scored 160 in 50 overs. In the next four matches against South Africa, UAE, Zimbabwe, and Ireland  Pakistan showed good performance and won all the matches. Pakistan qualified for the quarterfinals. Pakistan played against Australia in the quarterfinal match. Pakistan scored 213 runs in 49.5 overs whereas Australia scored 216 runs in 33.5 overs. Australia won the match by 6 wickets. After losing the match against Australia Pakistan was out of the tournament and Australia won the 2015 Cricket World Cup.

2016 ICC World T20:

The 2016 ICC World Cup was held in India.Pakistan played its first match against Bangladesh. Pakistan scored 201 runs in 20 overs and won the match by 55 runs. Bangladesh scored 146 runs and lost the match. The next three matches of Pakistan was with India, New  Zealand and Australia. Pakistan was out of the semi-finals for the second time.

Pakistan played a match against Ireland on 18 August 2016 and scored 255 runs. Pakistan got the achievement of number 1 ranking in test cricket for the first time. After playing a match against West Indies in Dubai Pakistan became the Ist Asian team and the 2^nd team overall to win a day-night test match. In September 2016 Pakistani team won the series of T20 series.

2017 ICC Champions Trophy:

In ICC Champions trophy Pakistan did not take start well and lost in a match against India by 124 runs. After that match Pakistani team struggled hard and won two matches against South Africa and Sri Lanka. In first Semi-final Pakistan played a match against England and won the match by 8 wickets. In the Final match Pakistan played a match against India and won the Champions trophy by 182 runs. Hassan Ali was declared as player of the tournament. After this wonderful victory, Pakistan moved up from 8^th to 6^th in the ICC ODI rankings.

Test Cricket:

In October 1952  first Test match was played by Pakistan in Dehli. In the first test, Pakistan lost by 70 runs against India.In the second Test the Pakistani players performed well and won the match by 43 runs. In 1954 Pakistan made their first tour to England. The series in England drew and Fazal Mehmood took 12 wickets. In 1955 Pakistan played a match against India. Later on, Four Test matches were played by Pakistan team and all matches were drawn and it happened for the first time test history. New Zealand toured Pakistan and face defeat by Pakistani players in the first test. Later on, Pakistan won the second test match by 4 wickets. In the final, the match became drew and it became Pakistan’s first ever Test series history win with 2-0.

Spot-Fixing scandal in 2010:

In September 2010 Pakistani team toured to England and had four Tests, two T20Is and five ODIs. In two tests Pakistan lost by 354 runs and 9 wickets. In the third Test Pakistan won by 4 wickets but in the fourth Test spot-fixing scandal took place against Pakistani players Mohammad Asif, Salman Buttand Mohammad Amir. All these players got punishment for their crime and banned for 6 months to 30 months.

Rise to No.1 Tests:

After having a tour to England Pakistani team became No 1 Test team. It was a wonderful achievement of Pakistani team in the Test history.