Friday’s 11-run victory over Australia saw Pakistan seal their 10th consecutive T20 series which began two years ago in September 2016.
It was back then when Sarfraz Ahmed took charge for the first time since replacing Shahid Afridi as skipper following the World Twenty20 earlier that year and under his captaincy, the only way has been up. Following the second triumph over Australia in Dubai, Pakistan have now won 86 per cent of their games under Sarfraz.
With that in mind, we take a look at the previous nine series’ that Pakistan has won on the trot.
ENGLAND, SEPTEMBER 2016
RESULT: WON 1-0
In the final match of the English summer, there was something to cheer for Pakistan as they won the one-off T20 at Old Trafford. Needing 136 for victory, fifties from Sharjeel Khan (59) and Khalid Latif (59 not out) saw the tourists home to a nine-wicket victory. It was the third time the hosts lost a T20 by nine wickets.
Sharjeel Khan
WEST INDIES, SEPTEMBER 2016
RESULT: WON 3-0
Even without blistering batsman Chris Gayle, West Indies still posed a threat as the World Twenty20 champions had the likes of Dwayne Bravo and Keiron Pollard. But the Men in Green showed no signs of buckling as they completed a comprehensive 3-0 series whitewash against the Caribbean side. Imad Wasim was the star of the series, taking nine wickets for Pakistan including a five-for.
Imad Wasim
WEST INDIES, MARCH 2017
RESULT: WON 3-1
Same opponents but different setting as Mickey Arthur’s side made the long trip to the Caribbean. Yet, it was the same outcome just like in the UAE as Sarfraz Ahmed made it three series wins on the trot. A young spinner called Shadab Khan stole the show as he finished as the top wicket-taker with 10 scalps – five more than West Indies’ Carlos Brathwaite.
Shadab Khan
WORLD XI, SEPTEMBER 2017
RESULT: WON 2-1
A historic moment as Faf du Plessis, Hashim Amla and Darren Sammy were among the elite stars to play international cricket in Pakistan for eight years. Ten of Pakistan’s squad had never had an opportunity of playing in front of their home fans and the crowd were not disappointed as Pakistan won the three-match series. Babar Azam and Ahmed Shehzad were the only two to cross the 150-run mark in the series while Sohail Khan was the standout bowler with three wickets.
#OnThisDay a year ago, international cricket returned to Pakistan!
— ICC (@ICC) September 12, 2018
In the first encounter of a three-match T20I series, Babar Azam's 86 guided Pakistan to a 20 run win against an ICC World XI in Lahore 🇵🇰 pic.twitter.com/GxE7gVGcTn
SRI LANKA, OCTOBER 2017
RESULT: WON 3-0
Pakistan’s dominance in the shortest format continued as they gained revenge on their Test series loss to Sri Lanka. The series was already sealed when they won in Abu Dhabi but Sarfraz’s side made it a welcome return back home as they completed a series whitewash. Shoaib Malik was the only player to reach the triple-figure mark in the overall series while pacers Faheem Ashraf and Hasan Ali snared six scalps each.
NEW ZEALAND, JANUARY 2018
RESULT: WON 2-1
A stern test awaited against the Kiwis before a ball was even bowled and their task got more difficult when they lost the first game. But Pakistan bounced back to win the two remaining matches as Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman starred with the bat while Shadab Khan had outdone the Black Caps with five wickets.
Fakhar Zaman
WEST INDIES, APRIL 2018
RESULT: WON 3-0
Just six months after welcoming a World XI outfit, Pakistan hosted West Indies in a three-day tour. With matches played back-to-back over three days, Pakistan were just too good as they registered victories of 143 runs, 82 runs and eight wickets. Once again it was Azam who topped the charts with 165 runs while it was no surprise that Mohammad Amir and Shadab Khan finished as the top wicket-taker with five wickets.
SCOTLAND, JUNE 2018
RESULT: WON 2-0
England had been on the receiving end of a shock ODI defeat just days earlier but there was no repeat from Pakistan in Edinburgh. They were far superior with the bat and ball as their class showed to register 48 and 84-run wins respectively.
7th consecutive match and series win for Pakistan in T20Is. Haven't lost a series since World T20 2016. Beaten England, New Zealand, WI (thrice), Sri Lanka, World XI, Scotland. #ScotvPak
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) June 13, 2018
TRI-SERIES WITH AUSTRALIA AND ZIMBABWE, JULY 2018
WON
Harare in Zimbabwe was the venue and despite losing to Australia in the second game of the tournament, Pakistan ultimately had the final say as they went on to win the tri-series. Although Aaron Finch topped the scoring with 306 runs, Fakhar Zaman was second with 278 while Mohammad Amir’s five scalps meant he was Pakistan’s top wicket-taker.
