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As the T20 World Cup 2024 approaches, cricket fans around the globe are eagerly awaiting Pakistan‘s performance. Known for their unpredictable nature, Pakistan have a reputation for delivering both exhilarating victories and unexpected defeats. With a history of strong performances in T20 World Cups, including a championship win in 2009 and recent success in reaching the final in 2022, the team is one to watch.
Unpredictability: Pakistan’s strength and challenge
Pakistan’s unpredictability is a double-edged sword, making them both a formidable opponent and a team prone to surprising outcomes. This characteristic has often led to stunning victories against top teams but has also caused unexpected losses against less favored sides. The squad, led by dynamic players like Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi, combines experienced hands with emerging talents, promising an exciting tournament ahead.
Pakistan’s journey in the ICC T20 World Cups:
1. T20 World Cup 2007
Pakistan performed admirably in the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007, ultimately finishing as runners-up. The team progressed through the group stages with a tie against India and a solid win over Scotland. In the Super 8s, they defeated Sri Lanka, Australia and Bangladesh, showcasing strong performances across the board. Misbah-ul-Haq‘s steady batting and Umar Gul‘s impactful bowling were instrumental throughout the tournament. Pakistan’s journey culminated in a thrilling final against India, where they narrowly lost by 5 runs despite Misbah’s valiant effort of 66 runs. Gul emerged as the leading wicket-taker for Pakistan with 13 wickets, highlighting his crucial role in their campaign.
- Performance: Runners-up
- Match Results:
- vs. Scotland: Pakistan won by 51 runs (Pakistan 171/9, Scotland 120/7)
- vs. India: Match tied (Pakistan 141/7, India 141/9) – India won the bowl out
- vs. Sri Lanka: Pakistan won by 33 runs (Pakistan 189/6, Sri Lanka 156)
- vs. Australia: Pakistan won by 6 wickets (Australia 164/7, Pakistan 165/4)
- vs. Bangladesh: Pakistan won by 4 wickets (Bangladesh 140/7, Pakistan 141/6)
- Semi-final vs. New Zealand: Pakistan won by 6 wickets (New Zealand 143/8, Pakistan 147/4)
- Final vs. India: Pakistan lost by 5 runs (India 157/5, Pakistan 152)
- Best Batting Performance: Misbah-ul-Haq’s 66* against Australia.
- Best Bowling Performance: Umar Gul’s 4/25 against New Zealand.
- Leading Run-scorer: Misbah-ul-Haq with 218 runs.
- Leading Wicket-taker: Umar Gul with 13 wickets.
2. T20 World Cup 2009
The 2009 T20 World Cup saw Pakistan lift the trophy under the leadership of Younis Khan. Despite a shaky start with a loss to England, Pakistan bounced back to win crucial matches against the Netherlands, New Zealand and Ireland. In the semi-finals, Shahid Afridi‘s all-round performance guided them to a victory over South Africa. The final against Sri Lanka was marked by Afridi’s unbeaten 54* and Gul’s exceptional bowling throughout the tournament. Afridi’s contributions with both bat and ball were pivotal, while Gul’s 13 wickets reinforced his reputation as a top T20 bowler. Pakistan’s triumph in 2009 remains one of their most celebrated moments in T20 cricket.
- Performance: Champions
- Match Results:
- vs. England: Pakistan lost by 48 runs (England 185/5, Pakistan 137/7)
- vs. Netherlands: Pakistan won by 82 runs (Pakistan 175/5, Netherlands 93)
- vs. Sri Lanka: Pakistan lost by 19 runs (Sri Lanka 150/7, Pakistan 131/9)
- vs. New Zealand: Pakistan won by 6 wickets (New Zealand 99, Pakistan 100/4)
- vs. Ireland: Pakistan won by 39 runs (Pakistan 159/5, Ireland 120/9)
- Semi-final vs. South Africa: Pakistan won by 7 runs (Pakistan 149/4, South Africa 142/5)
- Final vs. Sri Lanka: Pakistan won by 8 wickets (Sri Lanka 138/6, Pakistan 139/2)
- Best Batting Performance: Kamran Akmal 57 in the semi-final against Ireland.
- Best Bowling Performance: Umar Gul’s 5/6 against New Zealand.
- Leading Run-scorer: Kamran Akmal with 188 runs.
- Leading Wicket-taker: Umar Gul with 13 wickets.
3. T20 World Cup 2010
In the 2010 T20 World Cup, Pakistan reached the semi-finals, displaying a mix of strong and inconsistent performances. They started with a win against Bangladesh but suffered losses to Australia and England. Crucial victories against New Zealand and South Africa in the Super 8s secured their semi-final berth. The semi-final against Australia was a nail-biting encounter, with Michael Hussey‘s last-over heroics denying Pakistan a place in the final. Butt emerged as the leading run-scorer for Pakistan, while Saeed Ajmal‘s effective spin bowling, especially his 11 wickets, was a standout feature of their campaign.
- Performance: Semi-finalists
- Match Results:
- vs. Bangladesh: Pakistan won by 21 runs (Pakistan 172/8, Bangladesh 151/7)
- vs. Australia: Pakistan lost by 34 runs (Australia 191/5, Pakistan 157)
- vs. England: Pakistan lost by 6 wickets (Pakistan 147/9, England 148/4)
- vs. New Zealand: Pakistan won by 6 wickets (New Zealand 133/7, Pakistan 134/4)
- vs. South Africa: Pakistan won by 11 runs (Pakistan 148/7, South Africa 137/7)
- Semi-final vs. Australia: Pakistan lost by 3 wickets (Pakistan 191/6, Australia 197/7)
- Best Batting Performance: Kamran Akmal’s 73 against Bangladesh.
- Best Bowling Performance: Mohammad Amir’s 3/23 against Australia.
- Leading Run-scorer: Salman Butt with 223 runs.
- Leading Wicket-taker: Saeed Ajmal with 11 wickets.
4. T20 World Cup 2012
Pakistan once again reached the semi-finals in the 2012 T20 World Cup, demonstrating consistent performance in the group stages with wins over New Zealand and Bangladesh. In the Super 8s, they secured victories against South Africa and Australia, but a loss to India highlighted their vulnerabilities. In the semi-final, Pakistan faced Sri Lanka and fell short by 16 runs despite a spirited effort. Nasir Jamshed‘s batting and Ajmal’s spin were significant contributors throughout the tournament. Ajmal’s 9 wickets underscored his role as a key bowler for Pakistan, but the team ultimately could not overcome Sri Lanka’s challenge.
- Performance: Semi-finalists
- Match Results:
- vs. New Zealand: Pakistan won by 13 runs (Pakistan 177/6, New Zealand 164/9)
- vs. Bangladesh: Pakistan won by 8 wickets (Bangladesh 175/6, Pakistan 178/2)
- vs. South Africa: Pakistan won by 2 wickets (South Africa 133/6, Pakistan 136/8)
- vs. India: Pakistan lost by 8 wickets (Pakistan 128, India 129/2)
- vs. Australia: Pakistan won by 32 runs (Pakistan 149/6, Australia 117/7)
- Semi-final vs. Sri Lanka: Pakistan lost by 16 runs (Sri Lanka 139/4, Pakistan 123/7)
- Best Batting Performance: Nasir Jamshed’s 56 against New Zealand.
- Best Bowling Performance: Saeed Ajmal’s 4/30 against New Zealand.
- Leading Run-scorer: Mohammad Hafeez with 164 runs.
- Leading Wicket-taker: Saeed Ajmal with 9 wickets.
Also READ: West Indies record in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup history
5. T20 World Cup 2014
The 2014 T20 World Cup was disappointing for Pakistan as they failed to progress beyond the group stage. An opening loss to India was followed by a victory against Australia, but a heavy defeat to the West Indies and a win against Bangladesh were not enough to secure advancement. Ahmed Shehzad‘s century against Bangladesh was a highlight, showcasing his batting prowess. However, the overall team performance was inconsistent, and they were eliminated early. Umar Gul’s 7 wickets were the most for Pakistan, but it was not enough to change their fortunes in the tournament.
- Performance: Group Stage Exit
- Match Results:
- vs. India: Pakistan lost by 7 wickets (Pakistan 130/7, India 131/3)
- vs. Australia: Pakistan won by 16 runs (Pakistan 191/5, Australia 175)
- vs. West Indies: Pakistan lost by 84 runs (West Indies 166/6, Pakistan 82)
- vs. Bangladesh: Pakistan won by 50 runs (Pakistan 190/5, Bangladesh 140/7)
- Best Batting Performance: Ahmed Shehzad’s 111* against Bangladesh.
- Best Bowling Performance: Umar Gul’s 3/30 against Bangladesh.
- Leading Run-scorer: Ahmed Shehzad with 138 runs.
- Leading Wicket-taker: Umar Gul with 6 wickets.
6. T20 World Cup 2016
Pakistan’s 2016 T20 World Cup campaign also ended in the group stages with mixed results. They started strong with a comprehensive win over Bangladesh but suffered defeats to India, New Zealand, and Australia. These losses highlighted the team’s inconsistency and inability to perform under pressure. Shoaib Malik’s contributions with the bat were noteworthy, but the overall team effort fell short. Mohammad Sami‘s bowling had moments of brilliance, but the lack of collective performance led to an early exit. Shoaib Malik‘s 139 runs and Sami’s 4 wickets were the top individual performances for Pakistan in this tournament.
- Performance: Group Stage Exit
- Match Results:
- vs. Bangladesh: Pakistan won by 55 runs (Pakistan 201/5, Bangladesh 146/6)
- vs. India: Pakistan lost by 6 wickets (Pakistan 118/5, India 119/4)
- vs. New Zealand: Pakistan lost by 22 runs (New Zealand 180/5, Pakistan 158/5)
- vs. Australia: Pakistan lost by 21 runs (Australia 193/4, Pakistan 172)
- Best Batting Performance: Mohammad Hafeez’s 64 against Bangladesh.
- Best Bowling Performance: Mohammad Sami’s 2/17 against India.
- Leading Run-scorer: Sharjeel Khan with 112 runs.
- Leading Wicket-taker: Mohammad Sami and Shahid Afridi with 4 wickets.
7. T20 World Cup 2021
The 2021 T20 World Cup saw Pakistan performing exceptionally well in the group stages, winning all their matches, including a historic victory over India. Strong performances against New Zealand, Afghanistan, Namibia, and Scotland showcased their dominance. Babar’s consistent batting and Shaheen Afridi’s explosive bowling were key factors in their success. Nevertheless, in the semi-final against Australia, despite setting a competitive target, Pakistan lost due to a brilliant chase led by Matthew Wade. Babar ended as the leading run-scorer of the tournament for Pakistan with 303 runs, and Shaheen took 7 wickets, marking a successful campaign despite the semi-final loss.
- Performance: Semi-finalists
- Match Results:
- vs. India: Pakistan won by 10 wickets (India 151/7, Pakistan 152/0)
- vs. New Zealand: Pakistan won by 5 wickets (New Zealand 134/8, Pakistan 135/5)
- vs. Afghanistan: Pakistan won by 5 wickets (Afghanistan 147/6, Pakistan 148/5)
- vs. Namibia: Pakistan won by 45 runs (Pakistan 189/2, Namibia 144/5)
- vs. Scotland: Pakistan won by 72 runs (Pakistan 189/4, Scotland 117/6)
- Semi-final vs. Australia: Pakistan lost by 5 wickets (Pakistan 176/4, Australia 177/5)
- Best Batting Performance: Babar Azam’s 68 against India.
- Best Bowling Performance: Haris Rauf’s 4/42 against New Zealand.
- Leading Run-scorer: Babar Azam with 303 runs.
- Leading Wicket-taker: Shadab Khan with 9 wickets.
8. T20 World Cup 2022
Pakistan’s 2022 T20 World Cup campaign was a rollercoaster, beginning with narrow defeats to India and Zimbabwe. Nonetheless, they bounced back with crucial wins against the Netherlands, South Africa, and Bangladesh to reach the semi-finals. In the semi-final, Pakistan convincingly defeated New Zealand thanks to Mohammad Rizwan’s 67 runs. The final against England was a competitive affair, but Pakistan fell short by 5 wickets. Rizwan’s consistent batting throughout the tournament earned him the top scorer spot for Pakistan with 281 runs, while Shaheen’s 11 wickets underscored his importance as a leading bowler.
- Performance: Runners-up
- Match Results:
- vs. India: Pakistan lost by 4 wickets (Pakistan 159/8, India 160/6)
- vs. Zimbabwe: Pakistan lost by 1 run (Pakistan 129/8, Zimbabwe 130/8)
- vs. Netherlands: Pakistan won by 6 wickets (Netherlands 91/9, Pakistan 95/4)
- vs. South Africa: Pakistan won by 33 runs (Pakistan 185/9, South Africa 144/9)
- vs. Bangladesh: Pakistan won by 5 wickets (Bangladesh 127/8, Pakistan 128/5)
- Semi-final vs. New Zealand: Pakistan won by 7 wickets (New Zealand 152/4, Pakistan 153/3)
- Final vs. England: Pakistan lost by 5 wickets (Pakistan 137/8, England 138/5)
- Best Batting Performance: Mohammad Rizwan’s 67 against New Zealand in the semi-final.
- Best Bowling Performance: Shaheen Afridi’s 4/14 against Bangladesh.
- Leading Run-scorer: Mohammad Rizwan and Shan Masood with 175 runs.
- Leading Wicket-taker: Shaheen Afridi with 11 wickets.
