KEY POINTS
- Pakistan successfully hosted the ICC Champions Trophy alongside other international series.
- The national team played a record 34 T20Is, winning 21.
- Standout individual performances included Sahibzada Farhan’s 771 T20I runs.
- Pakistan’s junior teams dominated, winning both the ACC U19 and Emerging Teams Asia Cups.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan men’s cricket wrapped up 2025 on a strong note, marked by a successful return as a host of major international events and on-field gains across formats, reflecting growing depth in the national setup and a strengthened pipeline of emerging talent.
The cricketing calendar showcased 56 international matches across formats, with Pakistan securing 30 victories.
A deliberate focus on the T20 format yielded a record-breaking 34 matches, resulting in 21 wins and the emergence of substantial bench strength.
ICC Champions Trophy homecoming
The undisputed pinnacle of the year was Pakistan hosting the ICC Champions Trophy, the first major ICC men’s event in the country in 29 years.
This success was bolstered by hosting an ODI tri-series with New Zealand and South Africa and a T20I tri-series featuring Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, collectively reaffirming Pakistan’s status as a secure and capable host nation.
T20I dominance and emerging stars
Under the leadership of Salman Ali Agha, the T20I side enjoyed a prolific year.
The team secured bilateral series wins against Bangladesh, West Indies, and South Africa, and lifted two tri-series trophies (involving Afghanistan/UAE and Zimbabwe/Sri Lanka).
Selector and Director of High Performance Aqib Javed highlighted the strategic gain: “Progress in cricket is never sudden, playing more T20Is helped us build depth and options. I am satisfied with the bench strength that has emerged.”
Individual performances shone, with opener Sahibzada Farhan amassing 771 runs and left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz claiming 36 wickets.
The year also saw the arrival of new talent, exemplified by Usman Tariq’s hat-trick early in his international career.
Consistency across formats
In ODIs, Pakistan won seven matches, clinching series against South Africa and Sri Lanka and reaching the final of a tri-nation event.
Salman Ali Agha topped the batting charts, while spinners Abrar Ahmed and Naseem Shah led the bowling with 18 wickets each.
In the Test arena, Pakistan played five matches, winning two and drawing a series at home against the West Indies and South Africa.
Captain Shan Masood was the standout batsman with 397 runs, while Noman Ali took 16 wickets in four Tests.
Dominance in development and age-group cricket
The pathway systems delivered exceptional results, underscoring the health of Pakistan’s cricket future.
The Pakistan Shaheens won the ACC Men’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup in Doha after tours of England and Australia.
The Pakistan U19 team dominated the ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup, crushing India by 191 runs in the final. Sameer Minhas, who scored 172 in the final, was named Player of the Match and the Tournament.
The senior side also clinched the Hong Kong International Sixes, defeating Kuwait in the final.
With the ICC U19 Men’s World Cup in Zimbabwe and Namibia imminent, and the U19s currently competing in a preparatory tri-series, Pakistan cricket steps into 2026 with proven hosts, a deep senior pool, and a generation of young champions ready to take the next step.
