Cricket in Pakistan has a history predating the creation of the country in 1947. The first ever international cricket match in Karachi was held on 22 November 1935 between Sindh and Australian cricket teams.The first captain of the Pakistan national cricket team was Abdul Hafeez Kardar.Pakistan has played 437 Test matches, winning 142, losing 133 and drawing 162.Pakistan was given Test status on 28 July 1952, following a recommendation by India, and made its Test debut against india at feroz shah kotla ground, Delhi, in October 1952, with India winning by an innings and 70 runs. In the 1930s and 40s, several Pakistani Test players had played Test cricket for the  indian cricket team before the creation of pakistan in 1947.

The team has played 933 ODIs, winning 490, losing 414, draw 9 with 20 ending in no result. Pakistan was the .1992 worldcup champion, and was the runner-up in the 1999 worldcup. Pakistan, in conjunction with other countries in south asia, has hosted the 1987 and 1996 World Cups, with the 1996 final being hosted at Gaddafi stadium in lahore

The team has also played 170 .t20 international match winning 104, losing 61 and draw 3. Pakistan won the 2009 world cup and were runners-up in the in augural tournament in 2007.

Pakistan also won the 2017 icc champion trophy for the first time, defeating india. Pakistan has the distinct achievement of having won each of the major icc international cricket tournaments: icc world cup,  icc world t20 and icc champion trophy; as well as the icc test champion ship.

As of 9 February 2021, the Pakistani cricket team is ranked fifth in tests, sixth in odis and fourth in t20s by the icc.

The increase in terrorism as a result of the war on terror led to a stagnation of foreign teams touring Pakistan. Following the 2009 on the attack of srilankan national cricket team, no Test cricket was played in the country until 2019.Between 2009 and 2016, their home matches have been mostly held in the united arab emirates. However, due to a decrease in terrorism in Pakistan over the past few years, as well as an increase in security, many teams have toured Pakistan since 2015. These teams include Zimbabwe, srilanka,West Indies,Bangladesh,South Africa, and an icc worldx1 team with englan scheduled to tour in October 2021. In addition, the Pakistan super league has seen games hosted in Pakistan.