The year 2025 unfolded as a mixed but instructive period for Pakistan’s sporting landscape, marked by moments of brilliance, painful setbacks, and signs of long-term progress across multiple disciplines.
Cricket, as ever, remained at the centre of attention, while other sports delivered historic milestones and consistent success.
Cricket: heartbreaks early, resurgence late
Pakistan cricket endured a turbulent year that swung sharply between disappointment and recovery.
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The year began on a difficult note as Pakistan lost the second Test against South Africa, followed by a 1-1 Test series draw against the West Indies.
The results left Pakistan finishing at the bottom of the ICC World Test Championship 2023–25 standings.
With Pakistan set to host its first ICC tournament in 29 years, expectations were high ahead of the Champions Trophy.
Preparations began with a tri-nation ODI series against New Zealand and South Africa.
Pakistan lost their opening match to New Zealand but bounced back with a historic chase of 353 against South Africa in Karachi, the highest successful ODI chase in Pakistan’s history.
However, a defeat to New Zealand in the final resulted in an underwhelming campaign.
READ: Looking back at Mohammad Rizwan’s captaincy tenure
February brought further disappointment as Pakistan’s Champions Trophy campaign ended within five days following defeats to New Zealand and India.
Their final group match against Bangladesh was washed out due to rain.
In March, Lahore Qalandars won their third Pakistan Super League title. Veteran all-rounder Sikandar Raza struck the winning runs in the final against Quetta Gladiators, handing Shaheen Shah Afridi his third PSL trophy as captain.
The same month saw a major transition as Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan were rested from the T20I side for the first time since 2019.
Salman Ali Agha was named captain of the T20I side, with Pakistan fielding a young squad.
The gamble, however, backfired as Pakistan lost the series 4-1. The return of Babar and Rizwan in the ODI series did not change fortunes, with Pakistan suffering a 3-0 whitewash.
There was renewed hope in May–June when Pakistan swept Bangladesh 3-0 at home in the T20I series.
That optimism faded in July as Bangladesh defeated Pakistan 2-1 on their home soil.
August proved particularly testing. Pakistan beat the West Indies 2-1 in the T20I series but then lost the ODI series, marking their first bilateral ODI series defeat to the West Indies in 34 years.
The result ended Mohammad Rizwan’s captaincy tenure, with Shaheen Shah Afridi appointed ODI captain.
Before the Asia Cup, Pakistan regained momentum by winning a tri-series against the UAE and Afghanistan.
READ: Asia Cup Final: Pakistan set to face India for first time in 41 year history
In the Asia Cup, Pakistan won all matches except against India.
However, three defeats to arch-rivals, including the final, overshadowed their campaign, with India chasing 147 in a tense last over to lift the title.
The year ended on a positive note. Pakistan drew the Test series against South Africa 1-1 and defeated them 2-1 in both ODIs and T20Is.
Pakistan also whitewashed Sri Lanka 3-0 and won a tri-series involving Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka.
At the age-group level, Pakistan Emerging Stars won the Rising Stars Asia Cup after defeating Bangladesh in a Super Over final and beating India in the group stage.
Pakistan U19s also lifted the Asia Cup, defeating India in the final.
READ: Pakistan U-19 crush India U-19 by 191 runs in Asia Cup Final
Statistically, Pakistan played five Tests in 2025, winning two and losing three.
In ODIs, they won 7 of 17 matches, while T20Is proved most successful, with Pakistan winning 21 of 34 games.
Top scorers across formats
Shan Masood topped Pakistan’s Test run charts with 397 runs, followed by Mohammad Rizwan (360) and Babar Azam (315).
In ODIs, Salman Ali Agha led with 667 runs, ahead of Rizwan (569) and Babar (544).
Sahibzada Farhan was Pakistan’s leading T20I run-scorer with 771 runs.
On the bowling front, Noman Ali led in Tests with 30 wickets, while Abrar Ahmed topped ODI wickets with 18.
Mohammad Nawaz dominated T20Is, claiming 36 wickets, followed by Abrar Ahmed and Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Most Runs in Tests for Pakistan (2025):
- Shan Masood – 397
- Mohammad Rizwan – 360
- Babar Azam – 315
Most Runs in ODIs for Pakistan (2025):
- Salman Ali Agha – 667
- Mohammad Rizwan – 569
- Babar Azam – 544
Most Runs in T20Is for Pakistan (2025):
- Sahibzada Farhan – 771
- Salman Ali Agha – 625
- Saim Ayub – 581
Most Wickets in Tests for Pakistan (2025):
- Noman Ali – 30
- Sajid Khan – 21
- Abrar Ahmed – 7
Most Wickets in ODIs for Pakistan (2025):
- Abrar Ahmed – 18
- Naseem Shah – 18
- Shaheen Shah Afridi – 16
Most Wickets in T20Is for Pakistan (2025):
- Mohammad Nawaz – 36
- Abrar Ahmed – 28
- Shaheen Shah Afridi – 26
Hockey shows revival signs
Pakistan hockey showed encouraging progress despite lingering structural issues.
The historic tour of world champions Germany, the first international visit in 21 years, provided valuable exposure.
Pakistan reached the final of the FIH Nations Cup, securing qualification for the FIH Pro League.
A clean-sweep series win over Bangladesh ensured a place in the World Cup qualifiers, while the U17 team finished runners-up at the Junior Asia Cup.
Football struggles continue
Pakistan football remained troubled due to administrative instability and FIFA suspension. However, strong crowds at home matches and the women’s team’s maiden inclusion in the FIFA Series offered rare positives.
Snooker delivers consistency
Snooker remained Pakistan’s most consistent sport. Muhammad Asif won the SAARC Snooker Championship, World Masters title, and helped Pakistan lift the IBSF World Cup Team Championship.
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Hasnain Akhtar added further pride by winning the IBSF U-17 World Championship.
Arshad Nadeem leads athletics
Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem won gold at the Asian Athletics Championship and the Islamic Solidarity Games despite battling injury.
Yasir Sultan’s silver reflected growing depth, while Arshad was honoured with the Global Athlete Award.
E-sports and mountaineering shine
Arslan Ash continued Pakistan’s dominance in e-sports by winning his record sixth EVO Tekken title.
In mountaineering, Samina Baig became the first Pakistani to reach the South Pole, while Sirbaz Khan completed all 14 of the world’s 8,000-metre peaks.
Saad Munawar summited Mount Everest, and Sajid Ali Sadpara climbed Dhaulagiri without oxygen.
National Games return
The return of the National Games in Karachi after two years provided a crucial platform for athletes nationwide, while also highlighting the need for better infrastructure, with Pakistan Army clinching the title for the 30th time in Karachi.
READ: Pakistan Army crowned champions of 35th National Games in Karachi
Overall, 2025 was not a year of transformation but one of resilience and steady progress, a reminder of Pakistan’s vast sporting potential and the work still required to achieve lasting excellence.
