The biggest event of Pakistan cricket in 2024 is the ICC Cricket World Cup, which will be held in India from October 2 to November 18. Pakistan will play seven matches in the group stage, against Netherlands, Sri Lanka, India, Australia, Afghanistan, South Africa, and Bangladesh. The top four teams from each group will qualify for the quarter-finals, followed by the semi-finals and the final.
Pakistan hopes to repeat their historic triumph in the 1992 World Cup when they lifted the trophy under the captaincy of Imran Khan. However, they will face tough competition from the likes of India, Australia, England, and New Zealand, who are among the favorites to win the tournament. Pakistan will also have to overcome their poor record in India, where they have not won a bilateral series since 2005.
Pakistan’s squad for the World Cup will be announced in September, after the completion of the seventh edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), which will be held from January 27 to February 27. The PSL will feature some of the best domestic and international players and will be a good opportunity for the selectors to assess the form and fitness of the potential World Cup candidates.
Before the World Cup, Pakistan will also tour New Zealand and Australia for two Test matches each, in December 2023 and January 2024 respectively. These matches will be part of the ICC World Test Championship, which will conclude with the final in June 2024. Pakistan is currently ranked fifth in the championship table, behind India, England, New Zealand, and Australia.