Pakistan Records Worst ODI Year in Cricket History

Pakistan’s long and eventful journey in One Day International (ODI) cricket has been filled with unforgettable victories and heartbreaking losses. Over the years, the Men in Green have given their fans moments of glory, from lifting the 1992 World Cup to producing thrilling performances against the world’s best teams. However, 2025 is turning out to be a year unlike any other — and not in a good way. Statistically, this is shaping up to be Pakistan’s worst-ever year in ODI cricket.

So far in 2025, Pakistan has played 11 ODIs and managed to win only two matches. This gives them a win percentage of just 18.18% and a win-loss ratio of 0.22. These are the lowest numbers in the country’s ODI history for any calendar year in which they played at least six matches. For a team with over five decades of ODI experience, these figures are alarming and deeply disappointing.

Even during the tough times of the late 1970s and early 1980s, when Pakistan was still adapting to the format, their results were never this poor. To put things in perspective, Pakistan’s previous worst year was 1988, when they won just four out of 15 matches — a win rate of 26.7%. In more recent years, even challenging periods such as 2010 (27.8%) and 2019 (36%) were significantly better than the current campaign.

This decline is even more shocking when compared to Pakistan’s proud ODI legacy. Since making their ODI debut in 1973, the team has seen many golden periods. In 2008, Pakistan enjoyed one of their best runs, winning 18 out of 21 matches — an impressive 85.71% win rate and a remarkable win-loss ratio of 6.00. Another peak came in 2022, when they won eight of nine ODIs, achieving their highest-ever single-year win percentage of 88.89%.

For 2025, expectations were sky-high. With Mohammad Rizwan leading a talented squad full of experienced players, many believed this would be the year Pakistan established themselves as a dominant force in modern cricket. They even had the advantage of playing at home during an ICC tournament. But instead of a year to remember, it has become a year to forget. Pakistan endured a disastrous Champions Trophy, followed by a heavy series whitewash in New Zealand, and then suffered their first bilateral ODI series loss to the West Indies in over 30 years.

Looking ahead, qualification for the 2027 ODI World Cup will depend on ICC rankings. For now, Pakistan is not in immediate danger, but if this poor form continues and other teams climb the rankings, the future could bring unwelcome surprises.

The remainder of 2025 offers only six more ODIs for Pakistan — three against South Africa and three against Sri Lanka. These matches provide a chance to recover some pride, but given the current form, fans are keeping their expectations low.

If Pakistan hopes to change the narrative, they will need more than just wins — they need convincing, dominant performances to restore the faith of their supporters. Otherwise, 2025 will not just be remembered as a dark chapter in Pakistan’s cricket history, but could signal a troubling new reality for the team.

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