Pakistan in T20 Internationals
Pakistan have been a force to reckon with in the T20 format ever since its formative years. They have played 190 T20Is to date, the most among all teams and have won 117 games as well — the most among all teams once again.
Currently, Pakistan plays under the leadership of Babar Azam, who is regarded as one of the best all-format batters in modern day cricket. Legendary former Pakistan player Saqlain Mushtaq is their head coach as well and he has quite a star-studded company too, with former Australia pacer Shaun Tait acting as bowling coach, Abdul Majeed as fielding coach and Mohammad Yousuf as batting coach.
Pakistan’s History in T20 Internationals
Pakistan has played the most number of matches among all teams in this format and that sums up the love and expertise they have as a team for T20Is. Their journey in T20Is in the last decade and a half has been quite memorable.
Pakistan almost went on to win the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup in 2007, but ultimately lost to India in the finals. They made a strong comeback in the very next edition, though, as they became the Champions beating England in the final.
The Asian giants haven’t managed to taste enough success after that, though. But they delivered a superb performance in the last edition of the tournament in 2021, which saw them finishing as one of the semi-finalists.
They lost to Australia in the semi-finals after a late assault from Matthew Wade. Pakistan have formed an even stronger squad now and will be eyeing another stellar performance in Australia later this year.
Pakistan recorded their highest team total of 232/6 against England in Nottingham last year. Both of their openers Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan scored match-defining fifties whereas Shaheen Shah Afridi and Shadab Khan broke England’s back with three wickets each. Pakistan also have an unwanted record to their name as they registered their lowest ever total in T20Is in 2012. They were bundled out for 74 by Australia in Dubai.
Who Holds the Pakistan T20 International Records?
Babar Azam is the highest run-scorer for Pakistan in T20 Internationals. He has amassed 2696 runs in 74 matches at an average of 45.52. Azam has scored a century and 26 fifties as well, and his knock of 122 vs South Africa in 2021 is also the highest score ever recorded in T20Is by a Pakistani batter.
Veteran batters Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik are next in the list of most T20I runs for Pakistan with 2514 and 2423 runs to their names respectively. That’s a commendable achievement too considering they bat in the middle-order mostly.
As far as the bowling records go, wrist-spinner Shahid Afridi sits at the top of the list of most wickets taken by a Pakistani bowler in T20Is. Afridi picked up 97 wickets in 98 matches, at 24.35 runs a piece. Former paced Umar Gul and spinner Saeed Ajmal sit jointly at second position with 85 wickets each.
Gul recorded a better average of 16.97 though, as compared to Ajmal’s average of 17.83. Another wrist-spinner Shadab Khan is third in the list with 73 wickets whereas the record for the best bowling figures belongs to Umar Gul once again. He recorded excellent figures of 5/6 against New Zealand in a T20 World game in 2009 and was adjudged the Player of the Match as well.
