When was last time Pakistan won ODI series in Australia?

Mohammad Rizwan-led Pakistan cricket team will take on Australia in the final game of the ODI series on Sunday. The series is locked at 1-1 as the two teams head to Perth for the final game of the series on Sunday. Australia had begun the series with a close 2-wicket win in Melbourne. 

Haris Rauf’s fifer and fifties by Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique ensured that Pakistan won the second ODI by 8 wickets in Adelaide. Mohammad Rizwan had a great chance to become the first Pakistani skipper in over two decades to win an ODI series in Australia. 

Last Time Pakistan won an Odi Series in Australia way back in 2002.
Fast & Furious Shoaib Akhtar 5 for 25 @ Brisbane help 🇵🇰 won a Series 2-1.
🇵🇰 bat first 256/7. Imran Nazir 66 , Wasim Akram 49
🇦🇺165 All out. @shoaib100mph Man of Match & Series#PAKvsAUSpic.twitter.com/O8ZXjSS0b1

— Zohaib (Cricket King)🇵🇰🏏 (@Zohaib1981) November 4, 2024

The last time Pakistan won an ODI series in Australia was way back in 2002. Waqar Younis was the captain of the visiting side. Ricky Ponting was leading the side after Steve Waugh’s ODI career had ended the previous summer. It was also the final time that greats like Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis were touring Australia as active players. 

Can the men in green repeat the heroics of 2002?

Just like the ongoing tour, even in 2002, Pakistan had lost the first ODI match to Australia at the famous Docklands stadium in Melbourne. In fact, the first two ODI matches were played at the same venue. In the first game, Pakistan batted first and scored a mere 176/8 from their 50 overs. 

Imran Nazir’s 39 was the best score for the visitors while Andrew Bichel picked 3/30 from his 10 overs. In reply, Australia coasted home to an easy win by 7 wickets with 103 balls left to play. Adam Gilchrist led the charge with 56 off 45 balls while Matthew Hayden scored 47 runs. 

In the 2nd ODI, Australia were put into bat first and were bowled out for 167 in the 46th over. The eerie similarity brings us back to the current tour where Haris Rauf’s fifer bowled out Australia for 163 in the 2nd ODI in Adelaide. In that game. Damien Martyn’s 56 was the best score as Wasim Akram and Shahid Afridi picked 3 wickets each. Younis Khan’s 56-not-out helped Pakistan win the game by 2 wickets and 7 balls to spare. 

The action moved to Brisbane for the final ODI match as Shoaib Akhtar took centre stage with the ball. Pakistan batted first and scored 256/7 from their 50 overs. Imran Nazir’s 66 and Mohammad Yusuf’s 61 gave the visitors a great start. Wasim Akram then scored 49 not out from 32 balls to help his side reach a respectable total. 

In reply, Australia lost Matthew Hayden for 5 and Adam Gilchrist ran out for 20. From here began the Shoaib Akhtar show as the pacer first removed Ricky Ponting for 14. His other wickets were that of Darren Lehman, Damien Martyn, and Michael Bevan. 

Shane Watson tried to fight back with 44 not out but Akhtar dismissed current Pakistan coach Jason Gillespie to register his 5th wicket. The men in green won the match by 91 runs to win the series 2-1. Fittingly it was skipper Waqar Younis who picked the final wicket of Glenn McGrath to register a memorable ODI series victory for his national side.