Just like many other things in the world, 2020 was not a good year for cricket. Things started in the usual fashion as top teams battled out against each other across the globe. With preparations for the 2020 T20 World Cup well underway, international teams looked to try out the best combination to take to the mega event.
World Test Championship was also heating up as top cricket nations looked to move their way up the table for the final, scheduled to be played at Lord’s in 2021.
Pandemic had other plans though. Cricket, just like top sports, had to be halted for a significant part of the year. Cricket fans received some good news finally when West Indies agreed to tour England to play cricket behind closed doors and in a bio-secure bubble. Pakistan pounced on the opportunity next and toured England, bringing some normalcy back to the life of Pakistanis.
At the end of the year, Pakistan Cricket Board made significant efforts as Pakistani players played regular cricket, be it in the PSL, domestic cricket, or international matches.
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Pakistan had a quiet year as compared to their usual standards. They played against only four teams in the calendar year and toured only two countries. Bangladesh and Zimbabwe toured Pakistan for short series as well. Let’s have a look at the timeline of Pakistan cricket in 2020.
1. Bangladesh Tour of Pakistan
Pakistan started 2020 by hosting Bangladesh for a two-match T20I series and a one-off Test, with the second Test scheduled to take place later in the year. The second Test was eventually postponed due to COVID-19.
The first T20I match took place at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on 24th January 2020. Pakistan won the match by five wickets, with Shoaib Malik scoring a magnificent half-century to take Pakistan home with three balls to spare.
The second T20I match took place at the same venue a day later. Pakistan dismantled Bangladesh and won the match by nine wickets. Captain Babar Azam and Mohammad Hafeez scored half-centuries to register a comfortable victory for the Men in Green.
Pakistan won the T20I series 2-0.
Bangladesh went back home after the T20I series according to their stipulation of the tour and then returned for the one-off Test match.
The Test match took place on 7th February 2020 at Rawalpindi Cricket Ground. Pakistan was too strong for the Tigers as they won the match with the utmost ease. Shan Masood and Babar Azam scored centuries in the match, and young pacer Naseem Shah rocked the Bangladesh batting line-up in the second innings with a magnificent hat-trick. Pakistan won the match by an innings and 44 runs.
This was the only series Pakistan played before the halting of cricketing activities around the world due to the pandemic.
2. Pakistan Tour of England
Pakistan toured England despite the situation of the virus and brought the smiles back to the faces of the fans. Pakistan played a three-match T20I series and a three-match Test series against England. The matches were played at only two venues, behind closed doors, and in a bio-secure bubble.
The first match of the tour was the first Test match at Manchester on 5th August 2020. After a very strong start to the match, Pakistan faltered. England took the game by the scruff of its neck and defeated Pakistan by three wickets. Shan Masood scored a wonderful knock 0f 156, but Pakistan was unable to take the lead in the series.
The next two Test matches were heavily affected by rain, and both ended in a draw. Test captain Azhar Ali came back to form in the third Test and scored a wonderful century as Pakistan managed to hold on despite being followed-on.
England took the Test series 1-0.
Then came the three-match T20I series. The first match of the series was washed out, as is the case with many matches in England. The match ended in a draw.
The second match of the series took place in Manchester on 30th August 2020. Despite scoring 195 in their allotted 20 overs, Pakistan lost the match by five wickets. England captain Eoin Morgan scored a quick-fire half-century as Pakistan bowlers lost the plot. England led the series 1-0.
The final match of the tour was important for Pakistan as they did not want to go home without registering a single win on the tour. Debutant Haider Ali and veteran all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez scored brilliant half-centuries as Pakistan posted 190 on the board. This time Pakistan bowling unit managed to stick to the plan and defended the target with only five runs remaining.
T20I Series drawn 1-1.
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3. Zimbabwe Tour of Pakistan
PCB managed to convince Zimbabwe to tour Pakistan amidst a pandemic for a three-match ODI and three-match T20I series.
Pakistan played their first ODI of the calendar year against Zimbabwe on 30th October 2020 at Rawalpindi Cricket Ground. Pakistan won the first two ODIs convincingly, the first by 26 runs and the second by six wickets.
The third ODI brought a surprise. Despite a brilliant century by captain Babar Azam, Pakistan was unable to chase down a target of 278. The match was tied and headed into the first-ever ODI Super Over. Zimbabwe managed to hold their nerve and win the Super Over, getting a consolation win at the end of the series.
Pakistan won ODI series 2-1.
In the three T20Is, Pakistan whitewashed Zimbabwe with the utmost ease. Pakistan won the first T20I by six wickets and the second and third T20Is by eight wickets.
Pakistan won the series 3-0.
4. Pakistan Tour of New Zealand*
The last series of the calendar year is still underway in New Zealand as the second Test match of the two-match Test series scheduled to take place on 3rd January 2021.
Pakistan announced a 35-member squad for the tour as they took the national squad and Pakistan Shaheens for the tour of New Zealand. The tour began with controversy as six members of the Pakistan squad tested positive for COVID-19 upon their arrival in New Zealand. Team members were forced to spend a lot of time in isolation and weren’t allowed to train for 14 days. Finally, the team was allowed to train, just one week before the first T20I.
Pakistan suffered a blow as captain Babar Azam was ruled out of the T20I series and the first Test match after suffering a fractured thumb in a practice session. Shadab Khan was named the T20I captain and Mohammad Rizwan as the captain for the first Test match.
The first T20I took place in Auckland on 18th December 2020. Shadab Khan and Faheem Ashraf managed to salvage some pride after the Pakistan batting unit collapsed on the first match of the tour. New Zealand won the match by five wickets in the end.
The second T20I had a similar story. New Zealand proved too strong for Pakistan as they won the match convincingly by nine wickets.
Pakistan looked to bounce back in the third T20I. Wicket-keeper Mohammad Rizwan played a fascinating knock of 89 as Pakistan chased down the target of 173 with four wickets in hand and two balls remaining.
New Zealand won the T20I series 2-1.
The first Test match of the series began on 26th December. Pakistan suffered a batting collapse in their first innings before stand-in captain Mohammad Rizwan and all-rounder Faheem Ashraf fought back to avoid the follow-on. New Zealand batting outclassed the Pakistani bowling line-up and posted a target of 373 in the final innings. Pakistan batting suffered the same fate as openers fell cheaply and the middle-order couldn’t hold on against a well-drilled bowling unit.
The moment of the match for Pakistan came when middle-order batsman Fawad Alam scored a brilliant century. Despite his heroics, Pakistan couldn’t manage a draw as they were bowled out with just 4.3 overs remaining in the Test match.
New Zealand lead the series 1-0.*
Pakistan’s Top Scorers in 2020:
| Test | ODI | T20I | |
| Player | Babar Azam | Babar Azam | Mohammad Hafeez |
| Matches | 4 | 3 | 10 |
| Runs | 338 | 221 | 415 |
| Average | 67.60 | 110.5 | 83 |
Pakistan’s Top Wicket-Takers in 2020:
| Test | ODI | T20I | |
| Player | Yasir Shah | Mohammad Hasnain | Haris Rauf |
| Matches | 5 | 1 | 11 |
| Wickets | 18 | 5 | 16 |
| Average | 35.27 | 5.20 | 23.25 |
