The Pakistan national cricket team toured Australia in December 2023 and January 2024 to play three Test matches.[3] The teams contested the Benaud–Qadir Trophy and the series was a part of the 2023–2025 ICC World Test Championship.[4][5][6]
| Pakistan cricket team in Australia in 2023–24 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 |
 | ||
| Australia | Pakistan | ||
| Dates | 6 December 2023 – 7 January 2024 | ||
| Captains | Pat Cummins | Shan Masood | |
| Test series | |||
| Result | Australia won the 3-match series 3–0 | ||
| Most runs | Mitchell Marsh (344)[1] | Mohammad Rizwan (193)[1] | |
| Most wickets | Pat Cummins (19)[2] | Aamir Jamal (18)[2] | |
| Player of the series | Pat Cummins (Aus) | ||
Controversies edit
In December 2023, Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja apparently attempted to appeal to the international community by including the slogan "All lives are equal" in his pair of shoes during Australia's first test match of the series.[7] He made the decision to showcase the solidarity with the citizens of Palestine who are being killed by Israeli forces although he did not intend any political messages directing towards a particular party. His social messages "All lives are equal" and "Freedom is a human right" were understood by both Cricket Australia (CA) and International Cricket Council (ICC) to be political and both organizations banned Khawaja from using such slogans.[8] Khawaja also wore black armbands during the first test match against Pakistan at Perth which drew sharp criticism from the ICC which eventually reprimanded him for wearing black armbands by ruling out that it breached the clothing and equipment regulations of the body.[9] Khawaja insisted that he wore black armband for his personal bereavement and does not lean with the sentiments towards Gaza.[10][11][12] Khawaja also revealed that he would challenge the ICC charges regarding the wearing of black armbands but promised that he would not wear them for the Boxing Day test match at Melbourne against Pakistan.[13]
In December 2023, Pakistani fast bowler Haris Rauf made himself unavailable for this series, due to his partaking in the Big Bash League, which triggered the PCB to hold a hearing. The hearing resulted in the termination of his central contract. PCB also decided for Rauf to not be granted an NOC to play in overseas leagues till June 30, 2024[14][15]. During this time, the PCB chairman was Zaka Ashraf.
However, it is worth noting that Mohsin Naqvi did reinstate his central contract once according to Naqvi, "wrote to us (the PCB) very nicely." [16][17]
Squads edit
 Australia[18]
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 Pakistan[19]
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|---|---|
On 10 December 2023, Sajid Khan was added to Pakistan's squad as cover for unfit Abrar Ahmed.[20]
On 13 December 2023, Travis Head and Steve Smith were named joint-vice-captains of Australia.[21][22]
On 21 December 2023, Pakistan's Khurram Shahzad was ruled out of the last two tests due to rib stress fracture and abdominal muscle tear suffered during the first Test.[23]
On 23 December 2023, Pakistan's Noman Ali was ruled out of the last two tests due to acute appendicitis,[24] with Mohammad Nawaz named as replacement.[25]
Tour matches edit
Prime Minister's XI vs Pakistan edit
6–9 December 2023
Scorecard |
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- Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat.
- No play was possible on day 4 due to rain.
Victoria XI vs Pakistan edit
This match wasn't part of the original schedule and was added later at Pakistan's request.[26] It was not a first-class match.[27]
Test series edit
1st Test edit
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- Australia won the toss and elected to bat.
- Aamir Jamal and Khurram Shahzad (Pak) both made their Test debuts.
- Shan Masood captained Pakistan for the first time in Tests.[28]
- Babar Azam (Pak) played in his 50th Test.[29]
- Aamir Jamal became the 14th bowler for Pakistan to take a five-wicket haul on Test debut.[30]
- Nathan Lyon (Aus) became the 3rd Australian and 8th overall to take 500 wickets in Tests.[31]
- World Test Championship points: Australia 12, Pakistan –2.[32][33]
2nd Test edit
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- Pakistan won the toss and elected to field.
- Pat Cummins (Aus) took his 250th wicket and his 10th 5-wicket haul in Tests.[34]
- World Test Championship points: Australia 12, Pakistan 0.
3rd Test edit
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- Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat.
- Saim Ayub (Pak) made his Test debut.
- David Warner (Aus) played in his last Test.[35]
- World Test Championship points: Australia 12, Pakistan 0.
Statistics edit
The top wicket-tacker for this series was Pat Cummins of Australia, who took 19 wickets, followed by Aamir Jamal of Pakistan, who took 18 wickets, and was debuting this series.
The top scorer for this series was Mitchell Marsh of Australia, who made 344 runs, followed by David Warner, also of Australia, who made 299 runs.
Trivia edit
This was David Warner's final test series. In his last test, the 3rd test of the series, he made 34 runs from 68 balls after being caught by Babar Azam with Agha Salman balling in the first innings. He made 57 runs from 75 balls after being trapped LBW. He ended his test career with 8786 runs, an average of 44.59, a strike rate of 70.26, 26 hundreds, and 37 fifties. He ended on no. 5 on the Australians with the most test career runs career test runs list.[36]
This was Shan Masood's first test series as captain, following Babar Azam's resignation from the role. He scored the second most runs for Pakistan in the series, scoring 181 runs in total, at an average of 30.16, high-scoring 60.[37]
Both Aamir Jamal and Khurram Shahzad debuted in this series.
Aamir Jamal took 18 wickets, at an average of 20.44, taking the most wickets for Pakistan in the series, and second overall. He made 143 runs, at an average of 28.60 and high-scored at 82, propelling Pakistan in a stand to over 300 in the first innings.
Khurram Shahzad took 5 wickets, at an average of 25.60, taking the fourth most wickets for Pakistan in the series, and 8th overall. He was ruled out from the second and third tests following suffering a rib stress fracture and an abdominal muscle tear.
Notes edit
References edit
- ^ a b "Most runs in the Pakistani cricket team in Australia in 2023–24 Test series". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
- ^ a b "Most wickets in the Pakistani cricket team in Australia in 2023–24 Test series". Retrieved 6 January 2024.
- ^ "Schedule revealed for 2023-24 Aussie summer of cricket". Cricket.com. 14 May 2023.
- ^ "Blockbuster schedule announced as Australia host Pakistan in new WTC cycle". International Cricket Council. 14 May 2023.
- ^ "Australia men set to host Pakistan and West Indies in packed home summer". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
- ^ "Australia to host Pakistan, West Indies and South Africa during 2023-24 season". Cricbuzz. 14 May 2023. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
- ^ Hand, Kevin. "'Freedom is a human right': Khawaja to fight for Palestine solidarity". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
- ^ Gallan, Daniel (15 December 2023). "Usman Khawaja challenges cricket's uncomfortable relationship with activism". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
- ^ Snape, Jack (21 December 2023). "Usman Khawaja charged by ICC over Palestine protest in Australia Test". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
- ^ "Khawaja says armband was for 'personal bereavement'". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
- ^ "ICC punishes Usman Khawaja for 'displaying personal message' in Australia vs Pakistan Test at Perth". Hindustan Times. 21 December 2023. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
- ^ Snape, Jack (22 December 2023). "Usman Khawaja hits back at ICC revealing black armband was personal not political". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
- ^ "Usman Khawaja to contest ICC armband charge, says it was for a bereavement". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
- ^ "PCB terminates Haris Rauf's central contract". www.pcb.com.pk. 10 January 2014. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
- ^ "PCB terminates Haris Rauf's central contract for not committing to Australia tour". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
- ^ Alexander, Shayan Obaid (24 March 2024). "Haris Rauf Gets His Central Contract Back". ProPakistani. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
- ^ Reuters (24 March 2024). "PCB restores Rauf's contract after letter clearing misunderstanding".
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Morris recalled to Test squad as selectors back Warner in Perth". Cricket Australia. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
- ^ "Pakistan call up Saim Ayub and Khurram Shahzad for Australia Test tour". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
- ^ "Abrar Ahmed ruled out of first Test". Pakistan Cricket Board. 10 January 2014. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
- ^ "Head reappointed vice-captain as Lyon returns to XI". Cricketer Australia. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
- ^ "Head named co-vice-captain as Australia look to 'future-proof' leadership stocks". ESPNcricinfo. 13 December 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
- ^ "Khurram Shahzad ruled out of Test series". Pakistan Cricket Board. 10 January 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
- ^ "Noman Ali ruled out of the Test series against Australia". Pakistan Cricket Board. 10 January 2014. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
- ^ "Mohammad Nawaz in as Pakistan's Noman Ali replacement". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
- ^ "Pakistan arrange a two-day practice game before second Test". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
- ^ "Harris makes most of his opportunity to push case as Warner's replacement". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
- ^ "Aamir, Khurram to make Test debut as Pakistan playing XI announced". Geo News. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
- ^ "Masood's Pakistan out to buck history against high-flying Australia". ESPNcricinfo. 13 December 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
- ^ "Aamer Jamal bags six-fer on Test debut as Australia bowled out for 487 on second day". The News. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
- ^ "After Warne, Muralitharan and Kumble, Nathan Lyon becomes fourth spinner to claim 500 Test wickets". The Indian Express. 17 December 2023. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
- ^ "Pakistan lose WTC25 points after first Test sanctions". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ Pakistan were deducted two WTC points for maintaining a slow over-rate while bowling.
- ^ "AUS vs PAK, 2nd Test: Cummins takes 10 to lead Australia to Pakistan series triumph". Sportstar. 29 December 2023. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
- ^ McGlashan, Andrew (1 January 2024). "Warner: 'I had Lord's penciled in as my last Test'". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 2 January 2024. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ "Warner signs off from Test cricket with a medley of his greatest hits". ESPNcricinfo. 6 January 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
- ^ "Today's Cricket Match | Cricket Update | Cricket News". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 10 June 2024.