Captaining one’s country is a matter of pride and honour for any cricketer, particularly in Test cricket. Pakistan, one of the most competitive teams in the world, has also had some great captains who have helped their nation reach some incredible heights and accomplish some incredible feats. In this article, we look at some of Pakistan's longest-serving Test captains and their records in the most difficult format.
1. Misbah-ul-haq (56 Matches)
One of Pakistan’s most influential captains, Misbah-ul-Haq, tops this list. Misbah was a right-handed middle-order batter. During his tenure as Test captain from 2010 to 2017, Misbah led the team in 56 Test matches. Pakistan won 26, lost 19, and drew 11 Test matches under his captaincy. In 2017, he announced his retirement and renounced his captaincy.
2. Imran Khan (48 Matches)
Imran Khan, one of Pakistan’s premier all-rounders and a fantastic captain, is next to feature on the list. He was the captain of the Test team from 1982 to 1992 and led the Pakistan team in 48 Test matches. The Pakistan team won 14, lost eight, and drew 26 games under his captaincy.
3. Javed Miandad (34 Matches)
Javed Miandad, a right-handed middle-order batter from Karachi, is next on the list. Miandad was Pakistan’s premier batter in the 80s and the captain of the Pakistan Test team from 1980 to 1993 in 34 matches. The team won 14, lost six, and drew 14 Test matches under his captaincy with a win percentage of 41.17.
4. Inzamam-ul-haq (31 Matches)
Inzamam-ul-Haq, the all-time Pakistan great, also features on the list. Inzamam was Pakistan’s Test captain from 2001 to 2007 and was an influential figure in building a young and new Pakistan team in the 2000s. He captained the Test team in 31 Test matches, winning 11, losing 11, and drawing nine, with a win percentage of 35.48.
5. Wasim Akram (25 Matches)
Wasim Akram, the left-arm fast bowler from Lahore and the king of reverse swing, was the captain of the Pakistan Test team from 1993 to 1999. Wasim, along with Waqar Younis, was Pakistan’s premier fast bowler. In the 25 Test matches that Wasim captained, Pakistan won 12, lost eight, and drew five, with a win percentage of 48.
6. Abdul Kardar (23 Matches)
Abdul Kardar was first seen wearing the Indian jersey in 1946 against England as a stylish, left-handed batter. However, in 1952, after playing three Test matches for India, Abdul Kardar started representing Pakistan and was named the Test captain. From 1952 to 1958, Abdul captained Pakistan in 23 Test matches and won six, lost six, and drew 11.
7. Mushtaq Mohammad (19 Matches)
The next to feature on the list is Mushtaq Mohammad, a right-handed batter and a leg break bowler born in Gujarat, India. Mushtaq played Test cricket for around 21 years (1959-1979) and captained the Pakistan team from 1976 to 1979 in 19 Test matches. The team won eight, lost four, and drew seven matches under his captaincy.
8. Intikhab Alam (17 Matches)
Intikhab Alam made his Test match debut in 1959 and served his country for 19 years before retiring in 1977. He was an excellent leg spinner and a handy lower order batter. Intikhab captained the Pakistan Test team in 17 matches but could only win one of them, losing five and drawing 11.
9. Waqar Younis (17 Matches)
Waqar Younis, Pakistan’s frontline fast bowler and one of the world’s best, is next on the list. Waqar was extremely lethal with his pace and reverse swing, which sometimes made him unplayable for any batter. He also got an opportunity to lead his national team in Test matches. He captained Pakistan in 17 Test matches, winning ten and losing seven, with a win percentage of 58.82.
10. Zaheer Abbas (14 Matches)
Zaheer Abbas, one of Pakistan’s star batters in the 70s, is next to feature on the list. He played as a right-handed middle-order batter, scoring more than 5000 runs in 78 Test matches at an average of 44.79. He also got to lead Pakistan in Test matches from 1983 to 1984 in 14 games. The team, however, won only three games under his captaincy, losing one and drawing ten.
