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The year 2021 was not only incredible for Pakistan Cricket Team (PCT) but also for cricket in Pakistan. The run-in tests and T20i were phenomenal. Now it’s time to recall Pakistan Test Cricket performance in what has been a fine year for the men in green.
In 2021, the journey of the team was amazing. They outperformed every opponent whether they have played in-home or away apart from that one Test match against New Zealand.
Matches/Series Results
| Match Results | Series Result | |
| Played | 9* | 4 |
| Won | 7 | 3 |
| Loss | 2* | 1 |
(*) – One Test match was against New Zealand, which was the second and last match of the two-match Test series.
Pakistan Test Cricket: Series review
PAK vs South Africa (Home Series)
After the loss of the last test against the Kiwis, PAK came back with a bang against South Africa in the home series. PCT won the test series against Proteas after 18 years. The series was whitewashed by the Shaheens (2-0). The standout performers were Fawad Alam, Hassan Ali, and Muhammad Rizwan.
In the first Test, where the team was 4 down in just 27 runs, Fawad Alam scored an incredible hundred which turned out into a match-winning knock.
In the second match, Muhammad Rizwan scored a brilliant hundred in the second innings where the team was struggling to set a reasonable target. The match was wrapped up with the magical spell of bowling by Hassan Ali. He finished his match bowling figures 10/114. He took 5 wickets in each innings.
PAK vs Zimbabwe (Away Series)
The team toured Zimbabwe for a two-match Test series. This was not part of the WTC. This was a regular series, first for PAK against Zimbabwe since 2013. The Men in Green completely dominated the Zimbabwe team, winning both games by an innings.
PAK vs West Indies (Away Series)
That series had high importance due to being part of the World Test Championship (WTC). The series would have been won by Babar’s men, unfortunately, the results were 1-1.
West Indies won the first match of the series by just one wicket. The Windies were chasing the small target but the Shaheen made it incredibly difficult. Bowlers put their heart out to the match but some drop catches ruined the show for PCT.
In the second test, the Shaheens bounced back strongly and defeated the host team in a rain spoiled match. They set the target of 329 with the help of the brilliant 100 of Fawad Alam. They bowled out the opposition in just 219 and won the match by 109 runs. Shaheen Afridi finished the match with his 10 wicket haul.
PAK vs Bangladesh (Away Series)
That series is also part of WTC, and the boys have won the series comprehensively.
In the first match, PCT won the match comprehensively. They were chasing a target of 202 and they did it with 8 wickets in hand. Abid Ali got the man of the match for scoring 133 & 91 in the match.
In the second test match, the game was spoiled by the relentless rain. On day 4, Babar’s XI declared their 1st innings for just 300 runs. They needed to bowl out their opposition under 126 runs to enforce the follow-on, and they just all out the Bangla tigers on 87. Sajid Ali took 8 wickets and destroyed the opposing team. Bangladesh was put to bat again, and Pakistan just annihilated the Bangladesh Tigers. They bowled out the opposition twice in just 5 sessions which is a rare feat for any team.
Pakistan Test Cricket: World Test Championship
2019-2021 WTC cycle
The Green Team were already out of the race for the WTC final so it was all to play for the title. They had played only three Test matches of the 2019-21 edition of WTC; one against New Zealand which they lost and the other was the South Africa home series.
2021-2023 WTC cycle
So far, the WTC for PCT is going very well. They have won one away series and drawn the other. They are in third place in the WTC Points Table. They are scheduled to play against Australia, England, and New Zealand which will be played in home conditions. There is only one away series remaining for the Babar & Co. which is against Sri Lanka. So, there is a very bright chance for them to play in the WTC Final in 2023.
Pakistan Test Cricket: Star Performers
Batters
Fawad Alam
The 36-year-old lad, Fawad Alam, has been a run machine in domestic cricket and also proved to be a run machine. He has been a crucial part of the team. He has scored 571 runs with an average of 57.10. He also scored 3 hundred with the highest score of 140.
Abid Ali
Abid Ali is one of the consistent performers. He has scored the highest number of runs. He has scored 695 runs with an average of 49. His high score is 215* and scored 2 big hundreds.
Bowlers
Hassan Ali
This year, Hassan Ali in test cricket was phenomenal. He has taken 41 wickets in only 15 innings with an average of 16.07. His best figure in the match was 10/114.
Shaheen Shah Afridi
Shaheen Shah Afridi is the star performer in every format this year. In test cricket, he is now at number 3 in ICC test cricket rankings. He has taken 47 wickets with an average of 17.06. His best figure in a match was 10/96.
Also Read: Report Card: Pakistan ODI Cricket in 2021
