Pakistan’s Performance in the World Test Championship (WTC)
The ICC World Test Championship (WTC) was introduced to add context to Test cricket by creating a league format spanning two years, starting with the 2019-2021 cycle. Here’s an overview of Pakistan’s performance in each cycle:
WTC 2019-2021
- Standing: 6th (Out of 9 teams)
- Matches: Played 12, Won 4, Lost 5, Drawn 3
- Key Performers:
- Babar Azam: Leading run-scorer with 616 runs in 10 matches.
- Shaheen Afridi: Star bowler with 39 wickets in 9 matches.
- Highlights:
- Victory in the two-match series against South Africa at home (2-0).
- Inconsistent away performances, including losses in Australia and England.
WTC 2021-2023
- Standing: 7th
- Matches: Played 14, Won 4, Lost 6, Drawn 4
- Key Performers:
- Babar Azam: Continued as the top batter, scoring 1527 runs (2nd highest overall in the cycle).
- Abrar Ahmed: Impressive debut, taking 27 wickets in just 5 matches.
- Highlights:
- Memorable victories against Sri Lanka in Galle.
- Struggled in home series, with series losses to Australia (0-1) and England (0-3).
- Failed to qualify for the WTC final due to inconsistent performances.
WTC 2023-2025
As of January 27, 2025, Pakistan concluded their participation in the 2023-2025 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, finishing at 9th position on the points table.
-
- First Test against Australia
- First Test against Bangladesh
- Second Test against South AfricaKey Details:
- Matches Played: 14
- Wins: 5
- Losses: 9
- Draws: 0
- Points: 47
- Points Percentage: 27.98%
Points Deductions:
Pakistan faced a total deduction of 13 points due to slow over-rate penalties in the following matches:
Key Challenges
- Inconsistent performances in overseas conditions.
- Middle-order vulnerabilities in critical matches.
- Fast bowlers facing workload management issues.
Pakistan’s performance in the ongoing WTC cycle has shown promise, and they are positioned well to make their first-ever WTC final if they continue their strong form.