The Multan Test match between Pakistan and the West Indies that got over on January 19 is now the shortest decided men’s Test in Pakistan.
Despite rain reducing the first day’s cricket to 41.3 overs, the first Test match between Pakistan and the West Indies ended in the second session of the third day. The Pakistan spinners – Sajid Khan (nine wickets), Noman Ali (six), Abrar Ahmed (five) – shared all 20 wickets to bowl out the West Indies for 137 and 123.
The hosts themselves fared little better against Jomel Warrican, who picked up 3-69 and 7-32 and effected two run outs. They made 230 and 157 to win by 127 runs, but 141 of these 387 runs across the innings came from one partnership, between Saud Shakeel (84) and Mohammad Rizwan (71) in the first innings. Nevertheless, they inched closer to Bangladesh on the WTC points table.
At 1,064 balls, this is now the shortest decided Test match on Pakistan soil. The previous record of 1,080 balls was held by the Faisalabad Test match of 1990-91 between the same sides, where Pakistan (170 and 154) lost to the West Indies (195 and 130-3) by seven wickets.
Of the 12 countries to have hosted Test cricket, Pakistan remain one of the four without a match that was decided under a thousand balls. However, they moved from 11th place to 10th on the list of shortest men’s Tests with results in every nation. They are above Bangladesh and Ireland.
Shortest decided men’s Test matches in every country
| Balls | Country | Details | Scores |
| 642 | South Africa | Cape Town, 2023-24 | South Africa (55 and 153) lost to India (176 and 80-3) by 7 wickets |
| 656 | Australia | Melbourne, 1931-32 | South Africa (36 and 45) lost to Australia (153) by an innings and 72 runs |
| 672 | West Indies | Bridgetown, 1934-35 | West Indies (102 and 51-6d) lost to England (81-7d and 75-6) by 4 wickets |
| 788 | England | Manchester, 1888 | England (172) beat Australia (81 and 70) by an innings and 21 runs |
| 842 | India | Ahmedabad, 2020-21 | England (112 and 81) lost to India (145 and 49-0) by 10 wickets |
| 872 | New Zealand | Wellington, 1945-46 | New Zealand (42 and 54) lost to Australia (199-8d) by an innings and 103 runs |
| 893 | UAE | Sharjah, 2002-03 | Pakistan (59 and 53) lost to Australia (310) by an innings and 198 runs |
| 920 | Sri Lanka | Galle, 2022 | Sri Lanka (212 and 113) lost to Australia (321 and 10-0) by 10 wickets |
| 1011 | Zimbabwe | Harare, 2005 | New Zealand (452-9d) beat Zimbabwe (59 and 99) by an innings and 294 runs |
| 1064 | Pakistan | Multan, 2024-25 | Pakistan (230 and 157) beat West Indies (137 and 123) by 127 runs |
| 1069 | Bangladesh | Mirpur, 2023-24 | Bangladesh (172 and 144) lost to New Zealand (180 and 139-6) by 4 wickets |
| 1423 | Ireland | Belfast, 2024 | Zimbabwe (210 and 197) lost to Ireland (250 and 158-6) by 4 wickets |
The shortest decided women’s Test match lasted only 801 balls. At Jammu in 1976-77, India (121 and 65) lost to the West Indies (210-8d) by an innings and 24 runs.
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