Pakistan left Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah out of their squad for the last two Tests against England, with a busy schedule cited as part of the reason. Just how much cricket will Pakistan play over the 2024-25 season?
In the aftermath of conceding 823 runs in a single innings in Multan, Pakistan left the star trio out of their squad for the remainder of the tour.
Via a PCB statement later in the day, selector Aaqib Javed cited "Pakistan's demanding 2024-25 international schedule" as part of the reason for resting the players, in the "best interest of Pakistan cricket as well as the players".
In a pre-match press conference, Pakistan coach Azhar Mahmood also added on the subject, "We have a lot of cricket ahead of us. From now until April, we are continuously playing cricket, tour after tour."
So how much cricket do Pakistan have left this season, and how does it stack up against the other Test-playing nations?
Over 50 days of cricket: Pakistan's gruelling schedule until April 2025
Pakistan have two Test matches left in the ongoing series against England, after which they have white-ball tours to Australia and Zimbabwe, ahead of an all-format tour of South Africa, all before the calendar year is out.
According to the ICC's Future Tours Programme (FTP) for 2023-27, they are scheduled to travel to New Zealand for three ODIs and three T20Is early next year, following which they will play a tri-series at home involving New Zealand and South Africa, before the Champions Trophy in February-March 2025.
All in all, until April 2025, Pakistan will play four Tests, 19 ODIs and 12 T20Is. There could be up to three extra ODIs too, if they make the final of their tri-series and if they make the semi-final and final of the Champions Trophy.
The following table lays out the maximum number of matches scheduled for each team until April 2025, according to the FTP. The number of potential match days assume each Test match lasts five days, and have taken into account potential qualification for knockout matches.
| Team | Tests | ODIs | T20Is | Potential matchdays |
| Afghanistan | 2 | 6 | 3 | 21 |
| Australia | 7 | 6 | 3 | 46 |
| Bangladesh | 4 | 9 | 6 | 37 |
| England | 5 | 6 | 5 | 38 |
| India | 8 | 6 | 5 | 53 |
| Ireland | 2 | 3 | 3 | 18 |
| New Zealand | 6 | 16 | 9 | 58 |
| Pakistan | 4 | 19 | 12 | 54 |
| South Africa | 6 | 10 | 3 | 46 |
| Sri Lanka | 4 | 9 | 8 | 39 |
| West Indies | 2 | 9 | 8 | 29 |
| Zimbabwe | 4 | 12 | 12 | 46 |
In terms of potential match days, Pakistan are second only to New Zealand in terms of how busy their schedule is. India are the only other team to have over 50 potential match days in the next five-and-a-half months.
However, where the other two teams differ from Pakistan is that several of their star players either play only one or two formats, or are rested regularly. This is not a pattern that Pakistan have followed lately, and resting three of their most crucial players midway through a series only presents as a hasty attempt to change that.
The PCB are right in saying they have a heavy workload over the rest of the season, and arguably right in wanting to rest their key all-format players. However, the execution of this, so far, has not been efficient.
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