Pakistan end 2025 Test season with only two wins; Shan Masood and Nauman Ali stand out
Pakistan end 2025 Test season with only two wins; Shan Masood and Nauman Ali stand out
By Nawaz Gohar ; Pakistan endured an inconsistent and largely underwhelming run in 2025 Test cricket, managing to win only two out of five matches played during the year. Despite glimpses of individual brilliance, particularly from captain Shan Masood and spinner Nauman Ali, the team failed to produce any major achievements in the format.
Pakistan played just five Test matches in the calendar year, securing two wins while suffering three defeats. The year began with a heavy setback as Pakistan lost the Cape Town Test against South Africa by 10 wickets.
In the home series against the West Indies in Multan, Pakistan started strongly with a dominant 127-run victory, but the visitors struck back to win the second Test by 120 runs, resulting in a 1-1 series draw. Pakistan regained momentum with a 93-run win over South Africa in the Lahore Test but failed to seal the series, falling to an eight-wicket defeat in Rawalpindi.
Captain Shan Masood was Pakistan’s top performer with the bat, scoring 397 runs in five Tests. He also hit the only century for Pakistan in the entire year. Mohammad Rizwan followed with 360 runs, while Babar Azam finished third with 315 runs. Shan and Babar both registered three half-centuries each.
Pakistan’s highest innings total of the year was 478 runs, scored against South Africa in Cape Town, while their lowest was 133, recorded against the West Indies in Multan. A major highlight was the 205-run opening partnership between Shan Masood and Babar Azam during the Cape Town Test, the team’s highest stand of 2025.
Veteran left-arm spinner Nauman Ali led the bowling charts with 30 wickets, finishing as Pakistan’s most successful bowler of the year. He was followed by Sajid Khan with 21 wickets, while Abrar Ahmed picked up 7 scalps.
Nauman also delivered the best bowling performance of the year for Pakistan, claiming 6 for 41 in a standout spell. Behind the stumps, Mohammad Rizwan took 18 catches, further cementing his role as Pakistan’s most reliable wicketkeeper.
