History Of Cricket In Pakistan

 

 Early years: 1947 to 1950

The independent state of Pakistan was established in 1947 following the Partition of India. Major cricket was already established in the country as many clubs and local associations had previously been part of the Indian cricket scene.
Matches were played on an ad hoc basis in the 1947–48 and 1948–49 seasons before Pakistan's Board of Cricket Control (BCCP) was established on 1 May 1949. Games continued to be few and far between for several seasons until a national championship began in 1953.

1947–48 season

On 27–29 December 1947, the Punjab v Sind match at Lahore marked the start of major cricket in Pakistan as an independent country. Later that season, on 6–8 February 1948, the Punjab Governor's XI v Punjab University match took place, also at Lahore. These were the only matches that season owing to disruption caused by the Partition.

1948–49 season

Another Punjab Governor's XI v Punjab University took place at Lahore in March 1949, but it was the only major domestic match in the second season.
The highlight of the 1948–49 season was the arrival of the West Indies team in November 1948. This was the first tour of Pakistan by an overseas team.
The Pakistan national cricket team made its inaugural overseas tour in April 1949 with a visit to Ceylon where the team played two matches versus Ceylon in Colombo. Pakistan, captained by Mohammed Saeed, won the first match by an innings and the second by 10 wickets.

1949–50 season

There were no domestic matches at all in 1949–50 when two touring teams arrived. The first tour was by a Commonwealth XI in November and December 1949. Then Ceylon, on a return tour in March–April 1950, played five major matches.

1951 to 1960

Pakistan's debut in Test cricket

In October to December 1952, Pakistan's Test debut was a five-match series in India, the matches played at New Delhi, Lucknow, Bombay, Madras and Calcutta. After India had won the First Test by an innings, Pakistan won the Second Test by an innings thanks to Fazal Mahmood who took 5–52 and 7–42. India won the Third Test and the other two were drawn.

1961 to 1970

 

The Qaid-i-Azam Trophy was launched in the 1953–54 season as Pakistan's national championship. The first winner was Bahawalpur. The outstanding player in the inaugural season was the great opening batsman Hanif Mohammed who scored 513 runs at an average of 128.25 with a highest score of 174.
Winners of the Qaid-i-Azam Trophy from 1954 to 1970 were:

• 1953–54 – Bahawalpur
• 1954–55 – Karachi
• 1955–56 – no competition
• 1956–57 – Punjab
• 1957–58 – Bahawalpur
• 1958–59 – Karachi
• 1959–60 – Karachi
• 1960–61 – no competition
• 1961–62 – Karachi Blues
• 1962–63 – Karachi A
• 1963–64 – Karachi Blues
• 1964–65 – Karachi Blues
• 1965–66 – no competition
• 1966–67 – Karachi
• 1967–68 – no competition
• 1968–69 – Lahore
• 1969–70 – PIA

In the 1960–61 season, the BCCP introduced a knockout competition called the Ayub Trophy. Winners to 1970 were:

• 1960–61 – Railways-Quetta
• 1961–62 – Karachi
• 1962–63 – Karachi
• 1964–65 – Karachi
• 1965–66 – Karachi Blues
• 1967–68 – Karachi Blues
• 1969–70 – PIA
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