Pakistan cricket in 2024: Shock losses, historic wins

The year 2024 was a rollercoaster for Pakistan cricket, marked by significant ups and downs that captured the unpredictability synonymous with the team.

From historic lows to remarkable comebacks, the narrative of Pakistan’s cricket journey reflected resilience, controversy, and the emergence of new stars.

A bleak beginning

Pakistan’s year started disastrously under Shan Masood’s Test captaincy. A 3-0 whitewash against Australia in the Benaud-Qadir Trophy set the tone for a tough opening stretch. This was followed by a 4-1 defeat in a T20I series against New Zealand. While a drawn home series against the same opponent offered a glimmer of hope, it showed Pakistan’s struggle to find consistency.

The disarray extended beyond the field. January saw the departure of coaches Mickey Arthur, Grant Bradburn, and Mohammad Hafeez, followed by the short-lived appointments of Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie. By year’s end, both had resigned, citing frustrations with the cricket board.

T20 World Cup disaster

Pakistan’s preparation for the T20 World Cup was marred by inconsistency and players coming back from retirement. Imad Wasim and Mohammad Amir came out of retirement and retired again before the end of the year. A 2-1 series win against Ireland seemed promising but was quickly overshadowed by a 2-0 loss to England.

The World Cup campaign itself was a historic low. Starting with a shocking Super Over defeat to co-hosts USA, Pakistan’s campaign derailed further with a narrow six-run loss to India. While they won their remaining games against Canada and Ireland, a washed-out match between the USA and Ireland confirmed their early exit.

A historic Test series loss to Bangladesh

Adding to the misery, Pakistan suffered their first-ever home Test series defeat to Bangladesh. The 2-0 whitewash was a bitter pill to swallow, raising serious questions about the team’s red-ball strategy and leadership under Masood.

A stunning turnaround against England

Just when it seemed Pakistan’s fortunes would not improve, the team scripted an incredible comeback in a home Test series against England. After losing the first match, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) reshuffled the selection committee, with Aaqib Javed emerging as an important figure, who suggested focusing on preparing spin tracks which paid dividends.

Senior players like Babar Azam, Naseem Shah, and Shaheen Afridi were rested, making way for domestic performers like Kamran Ghulam and spinners Noman Ali and Sajid Khan.

The move proved decisive as Noman and Sajid dismantled England’s batting lineup, claiming 39 of England’s 40 wickets in the final two matches. Pakistan secured a 2-1 series victory, marking one of the year’s brightest moments.

ODI triumphs under Rizwan

Mohammad Rizwan took over as ODI captain and led Pakistan to their first series win on Australian soil since 2002, defeating the hosts 2-1. The momentum continued with a 2-1 ODI series win against Zimbabwe, followed by a T20I series victory under Agha Salman’s leadership.

The crowning achievement came with a historic 3-0 ODI series whitewash against South Africa on their home turf. This marked the first time any team had achieved such a feat in South Africa.

Young opener Saim Ayub emerged as a star, showcasing explosive form and establishing himself as one of the world’s brightest ODI openers.

Challenges in T20Is

While ODIs brought joy, Pakistan’s T20I performance remained underwhelming. Winning only 9 of their 27 T20Is in 2024, the team struggled to find cohesion. The defeats included series losses to England, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, highlighting the gap in their shortest-format game.

Women’s cricket struggles

The Pakistan women’s cricket team endured a tough year, winning only 5 of 25 matches across formats and failing to secure a single ODI victory.

Series losses to the West Indies and England, as well as struggles in multi-team events like the ACC Women’s Asia Cup and the Women’s T20 World Cup, showed the challenges facing the team.

A landmark for blind cricket

In a year of mixed fortunes, the Pakistan blind cricket team provided a moment of immense pride by clinching their maiden Blind T20 World Cup title.

Their dominant 10-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the final broke India’s longstanding dominance in the tournament and offered a beacon of hope amid the struggles of other teams.

Administrative developments

The impasse regarding the hosting of the 2025 Champions Trophy has been resolved. Following months of uncertainty, the ICC finalized an agreement. During the 2025 Champions Trophy, India’s matches will take place at a neutral venue, while Pakistan will receive a similar arrangement in future ICC events hosted by India. The tournament will feature Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Dubai as host venues.

Looking ahead to 2025

The contrasting performances of Pakistan’s teams in different formats highlighted the highs and lows of 2024. While the Test and T20I teams faltered, the ODI side’s resurgence offered hope.

As 2024 drew to a close, Pakistan cricket seemed poised for a brighter future. The emergence of young stars, improved ODI form offered a foundation for success. However, challenges remain, particularly in T20Is and women’s cricket, where significant improvements are needed.