Pakistan Cricket: From Street Matches to World Wins

It is by far the most popular sport in Pakistan. People of all ages, all over the country love to watch and play the game. They cheer on their national side. And they closely follow favorite players in tests, one-day internationals (ODIs), and other forms of the game. 

And, when you look back at the history of this sport, it’s fascinating to see just how far the sport has come. It’s gone from the early days of street sports, to a time where Pakistan has been the No. 1 team worldwide.

These days, young people across Pakistan have a lot of modes of entertainment. They can play games, gamble with the likes of https://chicken-road-pk.com/, use the internet, and much more. But back, decades ago, there weren’t as many options, and this game became a popular pastime.

Let’s take a look back through the history of Pakistan cricket. We’ll explore key moments, milestones, and magical encounters across the decades.

The Origins of This Sport in Pakistan

We’ll begin, as we should, at the beginning, with the very origins of this sport in Pakistan. Here’s a look at how the game started to appear here, and the initial formation of the Pakistan cricket team.

Colonial Legacy and Early Days

This game has been played in Pakistan since the very formation of the country. Which was way back in 1947. In fact, it was even played on Pakistani soil before that point. The first ever international match actually happened in Karachi, in 1935.

Just like in India, cricket in Pakistan was a product of colonialism. It was introduced by the British during their time ruling over British India. The colonists taught the locals the rules of the game, and it quickly proved popular, especially with the middle classes. But the infrastructure at the time was poor, without any Test match grounds or official competitions to speak of.

Formation of the Pakistan National Team

It didn’t take long for Pakistan’s national team to form, soon after the country had gained its independence in 1947. By ’52, it had been granted Test status (with the aid of a recommendation from future rivals, India) and played its first Test that same year.

The match in question was in Delhi, part of a five-game series against India. India won the series, but Pakistan claimed a Test victory, proving that there was potential in the team, right from the start.

The Street Culture

Instead of being cooped up inside, a lot of young people and kids spent their time out on the streets, with friends. And it didn’t take long for those little groups to start trying their hand at the game.So the street cricket culture started. 

How It Became Pakistan’s Most Popular Sport

As touched on earlier, this sport was not an instant hit in Pakistan. Some people literally refused to play it at first, because of its associations with colonialism. Others just weren’t that interested or aware of the game’s rules.

But when people started to see the best-level players, and started to watch their own national side competing with the likes of India and England, they wanted to try the game themselves.

Groups of kids took to the streets, bats and balls in hand. Some even used tennis balls covered in tape, as they couldn’t get their hands on cricket balls at the time. They played in yards, streets, alleys, and parks, wherever they could, and the popularity of the game grew and grew.

Challenges of Playing on the Streets

Of course, playing on the street wasn’t always easy for those early adopters of the game. It had challenges, like:

• Safety issues, especially when playing near busy roads or public places
• Issues with identifying boundaries and figuring out the correct number of runs
• Field strategies and placements were also difficult due to obstacles like trees
• Problems with uneven terrain, which could make bowling very unpredictable

Notable Players Who Emerged from Street Cricket

Despite the challenges of street sports, it proved a great training ground for some of the Pakistan national team’s biggest stars, like:

• Wasim Akram 
• Shahid Afridi 
• Babar Azam

All these men started in street sports. They honed skills on rough, uneven grounds. And they gained a lot from that experience, clearly. It set them up well for professional success, with all three becoming Pakistani national heroes.

Pakistan’s Rise in International Cricket

Next, let’s dig into the gradual rise of the national team on the global stage. As you’ll see, it was quite a rapid and exciting ascent.

First International Matches and Test Status

As touched on earlier, the Pakistan national cricket team was granted Test status in 1952, and quickly got to work in its first few games. They included:

• The first Pakistan overseas tour, with a two-match series against Ceylon. Pakistan won both games.
• The first Test series against India, which ended 2-1 to India.
• The introduction of the Qaid-i-Azam Trophy, the national championship in Pakistan, which pit teams from different cities against each other.

Historic Victories in Test and ODI Formats

Pakistan didn’t take long to get off to winning ways. It won its first Test in 1952, followed by its first win in England just a couple of years later at The Oval. In 1955, Pakistan claimed its first home Test win at Karachi, plus a first Test series win against New Zealand, in NZ.

As time went by and the team got better and gained experience, performances only got better.

The team reached the semi-finals in three subsequent ICC World Cups. Those were in 1979, 1983, and 1987. It also reached the quarter finals of its first ICC Champions Trophy in Bangladesh, plus claimed a runners-up spot in the 1986 Asia Cup.

Experts predicted that a big tournament win wasn’t far away for Pakistan, and they proved to be right.

The 1992 World Cup Triumph

1992 was the year that the game’s fans in Pakistan had been waiting for. The team had been eliminated in the semi-finals of three World Cups in a row, but in 1992, they hoped to go one step further and reach a final. 

They did just that, winning just enough games in the round-robin stage to progress as one of the best four teams. 

In the semi finals, they met New Zealand, earning a hard-fought four wicket win. Then, in the final, they clashed with England. It was a match for the ages, with Pakistan eventually winning by 22 runs, led by the mighty Imran Khan, a legend of the game.

The Golden Generation and Legendary Players

There have been so many great Pakistan players over the years. Fans across the country and around the world have followed their exploits in-person. While others feverishly spend free time checking cricket live score stats to see how many runs are being racked up or how many wickets the Pakistani bowlers have managed to take that day.

Let’s have a little look at some of the greatest players to ever pull on a Pakistan national team shirt.

Imran Khan – The Captain Who Led to Glory 

Imran Khan is a man of a whole lot of talents.

He’s known to many around the world as the former Pakistani Prime Minister. And he was also one of the best-ever players.

88 Tests, 175 ODIs, and hundreds of first class games played. Thousands of runs scored. Hundreds of wickets taken. Plus a huge role in the 1992 World Cup win. And the 1986 plus 1990 Austral-Asia Cup wins. He was there for all of it, playing a starring role.

Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, and the Rise of Fast Bowling 

Wasim Akram was one of the best fast bowlers in local history. He had immense pace, and swing (they even called him “The Sultan of Swing”). He was part of the 1992 WC side. Additionally, he starred at the 2000 Asia Cup, which Pakistan won.

Waqar Younis was another legend. He’s often ranked among the best bowlers to ever play. And that’s not just in Pakistan, but the whole world! He was his country’s youngest captain. Plus, he took close to 800 wickets in Tests and ODIs combined.

The Influence of Spin Legends Like Saqlain Mushtaq and Abdul Qadir

Pakistani bowlers aren’t just all about pace. The country has also given us some great spin bowlers, too. 

Saqlain Mushtaq was one. He wowed the world with his iconic “doosra” delivery. And no fan could forget when he took a hat-trick vs. Zimbabwe at the World Cup. He also set the record for taking 250 ODI wickets faster than anyone else.

Abdul Qadir was another spin wizard. He was in the side in the 70s and 80s. He took 200+ Test wickets. He also featured in two World Cups, though never got the fortune to lift the trophy.

Pakistan Super League (PSL) and Domestic Sports

In 2015, Pakistan launched its domestic league. This was the PSL, and it’s had a big impact on the game and the nation.

The Impact of PSL on Talent Development 

Lots of countries have seen the benefits of big domestic leagues. Like India and England, to name but two. Pakistan, now, is also reaping the rewards.

Loads of the country’s international stars ply their trade in the PSL. There, they get to play more games. They can hone their skills, work with different systems and teammates, and become more impactful, adaptable players. Babar Azam is a great example. He’s the top run scorer in the PSL. Plus, he’s one of Pakistan’s biggest international superstars.

The Role of Domestic Tournaments in Shaping Future Stars

The PSL is still quite a young league. But it’s already paving the way for young players to get noticed and gain international recognition. We’re likely to see lots of future Pakistani greats start out in this league. So it can only be a good thing for Pakistan cricket on the whole. It just needs to keep developing, and it’ll need support from fans and the government to help with that.

Pakistan’s Challenges and Setbacks

It’s not always been smooth sailing for Pakistan sports.

Political and Security Issues

Especially in the early days, there were a lot of political and security issues. There was huge tension between Pakistan and India, for example, which made it hard to arrange matches between the sides. And when games did happen, there was always a risk of fan unrest, and the players often played defensively to avoid the shame of losing.

There was also the Indo-Pakistani War, which led to a complete halt in matches for Pakistan and India for several years. Then, in 2009, there was a terrible terror attack on the Sri Lankan team that were in Pakistan at the time, leading to a 10-year ban on any international games in the nation.

Match-Fixing Scandals and Rebuilding Trust 

In 2010, Pakistan cricket took another big hit after a terrible scandal in a Test match with England. Three members of the Pakistan team were deemed to have accepted bribes in order to intentionally bowl no balls during the game. 

The three (Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif, and Mohammad Amir) were eventually banned for periods of up to 10 years. And it took time for Pakistan to re-establish itself and regain the trust of fans, both at home and elsewhere.

The Impact of International Teams Refusing to Tour Pakistan

For all the glory of the Pakistan team, like the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy win, there have been times throughout history when certain teams have refused to tour the country.

Most notably, the Indian side has, on several occasions, said “No” to playing games on Pakistani soil, due to past political tensions and other issues. This has made it hard for Pakistan fans to enjoy the same number of matches and the same big tournament excitement and preparation opportunities as other sides, like England and Australia.

Pakistan’s Modern-Day Resurgence

Finally, we’ll finish up with a look at happier times and the modern-day success of the Pakistan national team.

The Return of International Cricket to Pakistan 

Pakistan was unable to host any international matches for a full decade from 2009 through 2019 after a terror attack on the Sri Lanka team, which was touring the country.

Fortunately for Pakistani fans, that period has ended, and international games have since returned. This has helped revitalize the sport in Pakistan and bring back a bit of glory to the national side, as well.

The New Generation of Players Leading the Charge 

Pakistan has a great generation of talent at its disposal at the moment, including:

• Babar Azam, the most prolific run-scorer in the history of the T20 game and the only Pakistani captain to take the side to No. 1 in the ranks.
• Mohammad Rizwan, a batter and wicket-keeper who captains the side in limited overs games. He’s been named the T20I Cricketer of the Year and has scored centuries in all three forms of the game.
• Shaheen Shah Afridi: With huge success at both domestic and international level, the 6 foot 6 inch bowler has taken a whopping 116 wickets in only 31 Tests.

Future Prospects and Aspirations

While Pakistan hasn’t won a trophy since 2017, it came close in the 2022 T20 World Cup final and seems set for future success. There are a lot of good young players rising up the ranks, strong infrastructure in place for future talent to shine, and it’s only a matter of time before we see Pakistan once again lifting aloft a trophy of some sort.

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