Pakistan leads the Ireland cricket team vs Pakistan national cricket team timeline with a commanding 13-3 record and one no-result across 17 international meetings spanning Tests, ODIs, and T20Is since 2007. Ireland’s greatest triumph came at the 2007 Cricket World Cup, while Pakistan remains unbeaten in bilateral series and holds the edge in nearly every major statistical category, from highest totals to most wickets in a series.
This rivalry, though lopsided on paper, has produced some of associate cricket’s most dramatic individual moments – a World Cup shock that ended Pakistan’s tournament hopes, a debut Test century that nearly delivered a fairytale, and a 2027 tour that will send Ireland to Pakistani soil for the first time.
Ireland Vs Pakistan Head-to-head Record
Pakistan leads the overall head-to-head 13 wins to 3, with one no-result, across 17 completed international fixtures in Test, ODI, and T20I cricket. Ireland’s solitary Test appearance against Pakistan ended in defeat; their ODI record stands at 1 win from 8 matches, and their T20I record shows 3 wins from 9 attempts.
The numbers tell a clear story: Pakistan’s greater depth in fast bowling and top-order batting has generally overwhelmed Ireland across formats, except in isolated bursts where conditions or nerves have flipped the script entirely.
| Format | Matches | Pakistan Won | Ireland Won | No Result |
| Test | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| ODI | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 |
| T20I | 9 | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| Total | 17 | 13 | 3 | 1 |
Read More: Ireland Cricket Team vs Pakistan National Cricket Team Timeline
Why Pakistan Dominates The Head-to-head
Pakistan’s fast-bowling stocks – historically among the deepest in world cricket – have repeatedly troubled Ireland’s middle order across generations, from Saeed Ajmal’s spin trickery in 2011 to Shaheen Shah Afridi’s pace assaults in 2024. Ireland’s competitive wins have almost always come from tactical surprise rather than sustained dominance, which explains why their three victories are spread nearly two decades apart rather than clustered together.
Complete Ireland Vs Pakistan Cricket Timeline
The Ireland national cricket team vs Pakistan national cricket team timeline stretches from a shock 2007 World Cup upset to a confirmed 2027 tour of Pakistan, covering 17 matches across three formats. Below is the full match-by-match chronology.
| Year | Event | Format | Result |
| 2007 | ICC World Cup, Sabina Park | ODI | Ireland won by 3 wickets |
| 2009 | Bilateral fixture, The Oval | T20I | Pakistan won by 39 runs |
| 2011 | Pakistan tour of Ireland | ODI Series | Pakistan won 2-0 |
| 2013 | Pakistan tour of Ireland | ODI Series | Pakistan won 1-0; one match tied |
| 2015 | ICC World Cup, Adelaide | ODI | Pakistan won by 7 wickets |
| 2016 | Bilateral ODI, Malahide | ODI | Pakistan won by 255 runs |
| 2018 | Ireland’s inaugural Test, Malahide | Test | Pakistan won by 5 wickets |
| 2018 | Bilateral T20I | T20I | Pakistan won by 38 runs |
| 2024 | Bilateral T20I series, Dublin (Match 1) | T20I | Ireland won by 5 wickets |
| 2024 | Bilateral T20I series, Dublin (Matches 2-3) | T20I | Pakistan won both |
| 2024 | ICC T20 World Cup, Lauderhill | T20I | Pakistan won by 3 wickets |
| 2027 | Ireland’s first tour of Pakistan (confirmed) | Multi-format | Series dates pending |
The Two Decades Behind The Numbers
Notice the clustering: nine of the seventeen meetings happened between 2018 and 2024, meaning this rivalry has intensified sharply in the last decade compared to the sparse fixtures of the 2007-2016 period. This recent frequency is a direct result of Ireland’s promotion to Full Member status in 2017, which unlocked more structured bilateral scheduling against Test nations like Pakistan.
Ireland Vs Pakistan Records At A Glance
Pakistan holds the record for the highest team total (337/6), the biggest win margin (255 runs), and the most wickets by a bowler in a single series against Ireland (7, by Shaheen Shah Afridi in 2024). Ireland’s standout individual record belongs to Kevin O’Brien, whose 118 not out remains the only Test century scored by an Irish batter against Pakistan.
- Highest team total: Pakistan, 337/6, Malahide 2016 (ODI)
- Biggest win margin: Pakistan won by 255 runs, Malahide 2016 (ODI)
- Closest match: 2013 ODI in Dublin ended in a tie
- Most wickets in the only Test: TJ Murtagh (Ireland) and Mohammad Amir (Pakistan), 2 each
- Most runs in a single series: Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, 132 each, 2024 T20 World Cup
- Most wickets in a single series: Shaheen Shah Afridi, 7 wickets, 2024 T20 World Cup
- Highest individual Ireland score: Kevin O’Brien, 118 not out, 2018 Test
Batting And Bowling Records Explained
These figures matter beyond trivia – Shaheen Shah Afridi’s seven-wicket haul across the 2024 T20 World Cup effectively defined that series, as his new-ball strikes repeatedly removed Ireland’s top order inside the powerplay, denying them the platform to build large totals. Similarly, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan’s matching 132-run tallies reflect Pakistan’s top-order consistency, a batting entity that has statistically outperformed Ireland’s opening pairs in nearly every recent white-ball series.
Last Five Ireland Vs Pakistan Meetings
Pakistan has won four of the last five meetings between the two sides, all of which took place during the 2024 T20I series and T20 World Cup. Ireland’s sole win in this recent stretch came in the series opener at Dublin.
| Date | Format | Venue | Result |
| 16 Jun 2024 | T20I | Lauderhill | Pakistan won by 3 wickets |
| 14 May 2024 | T20I | Dublin | Pakistan won by 6 wickets |
| 12 May 2024 | T20I | Dublin | Pakistan won by 7 wickets |
| 10 May 2024 | T20I | Dublin | Ireland won by 5 wickets |
| 13 Nov 2018 | T20I | Dublin | Pakistan won by 38 runs |
What The Recent Trend Reveals
This recent form line matters more than the historical 13-3 tally for anyone assessing current momentum. Pakistan’s dominance in white-ball cricket against Ireland has actually strengthened since 2018, not weakened, despite Ireland’s growth as a Full Member nation – a signal that Ireland’s improvement curve hasn’t yet closed the talent gap in T20 cricket specifically.
Major Rivalry Moments
The two defining moments of this rivalry are Ireland’s 2007 World Cup upset over Pakistan and Kevin O’Brien’s century in Ireland’s maiden Test in 2018. Both matches remain reference points whenever Ireland’s cricketing progress is discussed.
The 2007 World Cup Shock
Ireland’s three-wicket win over Pakistan at Sabina Park on St Patrick’s Day 2007 remains the single most iconic result in this fixture’s history. Chasing a modest target of 132, Pakistan collapsed on a green, seam-friendly pitch, and the defeat eliminated them from that World Cup entirely. Niall O’Brien’s composed 72 anchored Ireland’s chase and earned him the Player of the Match award – a result that instantly established Ireland as world cricket’s most dangerous associate nation.
Kevin O’Brien’s Historic Test Century
Ireland’s first-ever Test match, against Pakistan at Malahide in May 2018, produced one of the most memorable rearguard batting efforts in the country’s cricket history. After collapsing to 130 in the first innings – a 180-run deficit – Kevin O’Brien scored an unbeaten 118, Ireland’s first Test century, batting for over five hours. His unbroken partnership with Stuart Thompson turned a hopeless position into a 139-run lead, giving Ireland a genuine shot at a debut Test win. Pakistan chased down its target of 160 through an unbeaten innings from Imam-ul-Haq, winning by five wickets and denying Ireland a fairytale finish.
The 2024 Bilateral Series And World Cup Clashes
Pakistan’s 2024 tour of Ireland produced a tightly fought T20I series that Pakistan won 2-1, following Ireland’s statement win in the series opener at Dublin, where they chased down 183 with just one ball remaining. Pakistan responded by winning the next two matches comfortably, then beat Ireland again weeks later at the T20 World Cup in Lauderhill – completing a dominant year in this fixture.
Key Players In The Rivalry
Kevin O’Brien remains Ireland’s most significant player in this rivalry, holding the country’s only Test century against Pakistan, while Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi have driven Pakistan’s recent white-ball dominance. These names anchor the statistical and narrative core of the fixture.
Ireland’s Standout Performers
Kevin O’Brien’s 118 not out at Malahide stands as the benchmark individual performance for any Irish cricketer against Pakistan. Andy Balbirnie’s 128 runs across the 2024 T20 World Cup matches also place him among Ireland’s most productive recent contributors in this fixture.
Pakistan’s Standout Performers
Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan’s matching 132-run tallies in 2024 reflect Pakistan’s top-order strength, while Shaheen Shah Afridi’s seven-wicket series haul that same year makes him the most impactful bowler this rivalry has produced in the T20I format specifically.
What’s Next: Ireland’s First Tour Of Pakistan
Cricket Ireland has confirmed a landmark multi-format tour of Pakistan scheduled for early 2027 – Ireland’s first-ever cricket assignment on Pakistani soil. This adds an entirely new chapter to a fixture that, until now, has always been staged in Ireland, England, or at neutral World Cup venues.
Why This Tour Matters
Playing in Pakistan’s home conditions – typically slower, drier, and more spin-friendly than Irish or English surfaces – will test Ireland’s batting depth and spin-handling in ways this rivalry has never previously examined. How Ireland’s top order adapts to unfamiliar subcontinental-style pitches will likely determine whether this historically one-sided fixture starts trending toward parity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who leads the Ireland vs Pakistan head-to-head record?
Pakistan lleads13-3 with one no-result across 17 international matches in Tests, ODIs, and T20Is.
What is the most famous Ireland vs Pakistan match?
The 2007 Cricket World Cup meeting at Sabina Park, where Ireland won by three wickets and eliminated Pakistan from the tournament.
When did Ireland and Pakistan play their only Test match?
Their sole Test was played at Malahide in May 2018, won by Pakistan by five wickets.
How many T20Is have Ireland and Pakistan played?
Nine T20Is, with Pakistan winning six and Ireland winning three.
What is the biggest win margin in this rivalry?
Pakistan’s 255-run win at Malahide in the 2016 ODI is the largest margin recorded between the two sides.
Has any Ireland vs Pakistan match ended in a tie?
Yes, the 2013 ODI in Dublin ended in a tie.
Who scored the most runs in the 2024 T20 World Cup meetings?
Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan of Pakistan each scored 132 runs, while Andy Balbirnie top-scored for Ireland with 128.
Who has taken the most wickets in this rivalry?
Shaheen Shah Afridi took 7 wickets across the three 2024 T20 World Cup matches, the most by any bowler in a single series between the sides.
When will Ireland tour Pakistan for the first time?
Cricket Ireland has confirmed a multi-format tour to Pakistan in early 2027.
Has Ireland ever won a bilateral series against Pakistan?
No – every bilateral series between the sides has gone to Pakistan, though Ireland has won individual matches within those series.