Cricket rivalries are often built over decades, and the Bangladesh national cricket team vs Pakistan national cricket team timeline is no exception. What began as a largely one-sided contest gradually developed into a much more competitive rivalry, particularly as Bangladesh established itself as a stronger international side.
Pakistan dominated many of the early meetings, while Bangladesh’s breakthrough moments came in stages. The 1999 World Cup provided an early landmark, the 2015 ODI series marked a major turning point in white-ball cricket, and the 2024 Test series produced one of the biggest results in Bangladesh’s history. In 2026, Bangladesh went even further by completing another 2–0 Test sweep, this time at home.
This timeline looks at the most important chapters in Bangladesh vs Pakistan cricket history, across Tests, ODIs and T20Is.
Bangladesh vs Pakistan Cricket Timeline: The Early Years
Bangladesh and Pakistan first met in international cricket before Bangladesh became a full Test nation. Their early encounters largely came in limited-overs tournaments, including the Asia Cup.
For much of the early period, Pakistan held the advantage. Bangladesh were still developing their international structure, while Pakistan already had an established team with considerable experience.
The imbalance became particularly noticeable in bilateral cricket during the late 1990s and 2000s.
1986: Early international meetings
The Bangladesh-Pakistan cricket story stretches back to the 1980s, with meetings in Asia Cup competition.
These early matches were important for Bangladesh because they provided exposure against one of Asia’s established cricketing nations.
At this stage, however, the rivalry was not yet the evenly contested matchup that fans would eventually see.
1999: Bangladesh Shock Pakistan at the World Cup
One of the most important early moments came at the 1999 Cricket World Cup in England.
Bangladesh defeated Pakistan in the group stage, producing a result that was significant well beyond the tournament itself. ICC records later noted that this was Bangladesh’s only victory over Pakistan in their previous 48 encounters before the 2015 ODI series.
The result became an important part of Bangladesh cricket history because it demonstrated that the team could compete with an established international opponent on the biggest stage.
It also came just before Bangladesh’s elevation to Test status.
2000–2003: Pakistan Dominates the Test Rivalry
Bangladesh became a Test nation in 2000, and Pakistan was among the opponents they faced during their early years in the format.
The initial Test meetings were extremely difficult for Bangladesh.
Pakistan won the first several Test encounters convincingly, including matches in Bangladesh and Pakistan. The pattern reflected the experience gap between the sides during the early years of Bangladesh’s Test development.
In the early 2000s, Pakistan’s bowling and batting depth repeatedly proved too much for Bangladesh.
Bangladesh’s early Test challenge
The difficulty was not simply about individual players. Bangladesh were learning how to build a competitive five-day side, manage long innings, sustain pressure and adapt their tactics across multiple days.
Pakistan, meanwhile, already had decades of Test experience.
That difference shaped the early part of the Bangladesh national cricket team vs Pakistan national cricket team timeline.
2007–2014: Pakistan Remains Ahead
The next phase continued in a similar direction.
Bangladesh occasionally produced competitive performances, particularly in limited-overs cricket, but Pakistan generally controlled the overall head-to-head record.
The 2007 World Cup and subsequent bilateral encounters added more chapters to the rivalry, but Bangladesh were still searching for consistency against Pakistan.
The turning point would come in 2015.
2015: Bangladesh’s Major ODI Breakthrough
If one year deserves special attention in the Bangladesh vs Pakistan cricket timeline, it is 2015.
Bangladesh entered the three-match ODI series against Pakistan with a difficult historical record. But the series quickly turned into a landmark moment.
1st ODI: Bangladesh win by 79 runs
Bangladesh scored 329/6, powered by centuries from Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim.
Pakistan were bowled out for 250, giving Bangladesh a 79-run victory. ICC described it as only Bangladesh’s second win over Pakistan across all formats at the time.
Tamim scored 132, while Mushfiqur made 106.
The result ended a long 25-match losing streak against Pakistan.
2nd ODI: Bangladesh seal the series
Bangladesh followed up with another impressive performance.
Tamim Iqbal scored an unbeaten 116, while Mushfiqur Rahim made 65 as Bangladesh chased Pakistan’s total comfortably.
The seven-wicket victory gave Bangladesh an unbeatable 2–0 lead, securing their first-ever bilateral ODI series victory over Pakistan.
3rd ODI: Bangladesh complete the whitewash
Bangladesh then won the final ODI to complete a 3–0 series sweep.
The result was a major milestone. ICC reported that Pakistan had entered the series ranked seventh in the ODI rankings, while Bangladesh were ninth.
The series completely changed the perception of the rivalry in ODI cricket.
2015 T20I: Another Bangladesh breakthrough
The success continued in the one-off T20I.
Pakistan scored 141/5, but Bangladesh chased the target with eight wickets and 22 balls remaining.
Shakib Al Hasan scored 57 from 41 balls and Sabbir Rahman made 51 from 32, helping Bangladesh register their first T20I victory over Pakistan.
Bangladesh had therefore won the ODI series 3–0 and the T20I in the same tour.
2016–2020: Pakistan Regains Control
The two teams continued to meet in major tournaments and bilateral cricket.
Pakistan generally remained the stronger side in T20 cricket and regained the advantage in several encounters.
The rivalry also began appearing regularly in global tournaments, where Bangladesh’s growing confidence made matches increasingly competitive.
However, the most dramatic chapter was still to come.
2021: Pakistan’s Test Dominance Returns
The 2021 Test series in Bangladesh demonstrated that the earlier shift in momentum had not completely changed the red-ball balance.
Pakistan won both Tests.
In the first Test at Chattogram, Pakistan won by eight wickets after successfully chasing Bangladesh’s second-innings total.
In the second Test at Dhaka, Pakistan won by an innings and eight runs.
The results reinforced Pakistan’s strong historical advantage in Test cricket.
But Bangladesh were about to produce a result nobody had managed before.
2024: Bangladesh Makes Test History in Pakistan
The 2024 Bangladesh vs Pakistan Test series is arguably the biggest turning point in the entire rivalry.
Bangladesh arrived in Pakistan with a difficult Test record against the hosts. Before the series, Bangladesh had never beaten Pakistan in a Test match.
That changed immediately.
1st Test: Bangladesh win by 10 wickets
In Rawalpindi, Bangladesh produced a historic performance.
They won the first Test by 10 wickets, recording their first-ever Test victory over Pakistan. ICC noted that Bangladesh had reached this landmark after 14 previous Test encounters with Pakistan.
It was not merely a narrow upset. Bangladesh controlled crucial stages of the match and completed the chase without losing a wicket.
2nd Test: Bangladesh complete the 2–0 sweep
The second Test was another breakthrough.
Bangladesh chased 185 successfully and won by six wickets, completing a 2–0 series victory.
ICC described the result as Bangladesh’s maiden Test series win against Pakistan.
The victory was particularly significant because it came in Pakistan.
Bangladesh had transformed a rivalry historically dominated by Pakistan into one in which they had now achieved a historic clean sweep.
2025: White-Ball Rivalry Remains Competitive
The teams met again in T20I cricket in 2025.
Pakistan won the three-match T20I series in Lahore 3–0.
The results were:
- 1st T20I: Pakistan won by 37 runs
- 2nd T20I: Pakistan won by 57 runs
- 3rd T20I: Pakistan won by 7 wickets
Pakistan’s dominance in that series showed that Bangladesh’s Test breakthrough did not automatically translate into superiority across every format.
Later in 2025, the sides also met during the Asia Cup, with Pakistan winning a Super Four match by 11 runs.
2026: Bangladesh Wins Another Historic Test Series
The next major chapter arrived in May 2026.
Bangladesh hosted Pakistan for a two-Test series and produced another remarkable result.
1st Test: Bangladesh win by 104 runs
Bangladesh won the opening Test by 104 runs, taking an early 1–0 lead.
The victory was significant because Bangladesh had never previously won a home Test series against Pakistan.
2nd Test: Bangladesh win by 78 runs
The second Test in Sylhet provided another dramatic finish.
Bangladesh won by 78 runs, completing a 2–0 Test series sweep.
Taijul Islam played a major role, taking six wickets as Pakistan attempted a difficult fourth-innings chase of 437.
ICC described the series as Bangladesh’s first-ever home Test series win over Pakistan and their second consecutive 2–0 Test sweep against their Asian rivals.
Bangladesh vs Pakistan Head-to-Head: What the Timeline Shows
The overall story depends heavily on the format.
Pakistan dominated the rivalry for many years, particularly in Tests. But Bangladesh’s results improved dramatically in the 2010s and especially after 2024.
Recent records show that Bangladesh’s strongest period has come in Test cricket, while Pakistan has continued to hold an advantage in T20Is.
For example, available head-to-head data records Pakistan leading the overall T20I matchup, while Bangladesh’s recent Test results have dramatically narrowed the historical gap.
Test cricket
The biggest change has happened here.
Bangladesh went from never beating Pakistan in a Test to winning:
- The 2024 series 2–0 in Pakistan
- The 2026 series 2–0 at home
That is a remarkable transformation in only two series.
ODI cricket
Pakistan historically dominated the ODI matchup, but Bangladesh’s 2015 3–0 whitewash was a landmark.
Bangladesh then added another bilateral ODI series victory in 2026, winning that series 2–1.
T20I cricket
Pakistan has remained the stronger side in the shortest format.
The 2025 series was a clean 3–0 victory for Pakistan, despite Bangladesh having produced historic T20I wins in earlier years.
Major Turning Points in Bangladesh vs Pakistan Cricket History
Several moments stand out when looking at the complete timeline.
1. Bangladesh’s 1999 World Cup win
This was an early signal that Bangladesh could defeat an established team in a major tournament.
2. The 2015 ODI whitewash
Bangladesh defeated Pakistan 3–0 and won their first bilateral ODI series against them.
3. Bangladesh’s first Test victory in 2024
The 10-wicket win in Rawalpindi finally ended Bangladesh’s wait for a Test victory over Pakistan.
4. The 2024 Test series sweep
Bangladesh won the second Test by six wickets and completed their first Test series victory against Pakistan.
5. The 2026 home Test sweep
Bangladesh followed the 2024 achievement by winning another Test series 2–0, this time on home soil.
Bangladesh vs Pakistan Timeline at a Glance
| Year | Format/Event | Major Result |
| 1980s | Asia Cup | Early international meetings |
| 1999 | World Cup | Bangladesh beat Pakistan |
| 2000s | Tests/ODIs | Pakistan largely dominant |
| 2015 | ODI | Bangladesh won 3–0 |
| 2015 | T20I | Bangladesh won first T20I against Pakistan |
| 2021 | Tests | Pakistan won 2–0 |
| 2024 | Tests | Bangladesh won 2–0 in Pakistan |
| 2025 | T20I | Pakistan won 3–0 |
| 2025 | Asia Cup | Pakistan won Super Four match |
| 2026 | ODI | Bangladesh won series 2–1 |
| 2026 | Tests | Bangladesh won 2–0 at home |
The timeline shows a clear evolution: Pakistan dominated the early years, Bangladesh developed into a stronger limited-overs opponent, and the most dramatic recent change has come in Test cricket.
Why Bangladesh vs Pakistan Is an Important Asian Rivalry
The rivalry is interesting because it reflects Bangladesh’s development as a cricket nation.
In the early years, Pakistan’s experience and depth gave them a substantial advantage. Bangladesh gradually became more competitive through stronger domestic structures, improved player development and greater experience in international tournaments.
The 2015 ODI series showed that Bangladesh could beat Pakistan consistently over a series rather than relying on a single upset.
The 2024 and 2026 Test victories went a step further. They showed that Bangladesh could sustain pressure over five days and win repeated Test matches against Pakistan.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Bangladesh first beat Pakistan in cricket?
Bangladesh’s famous early victory over Pakistan came at the 1999 Cricket World Cup. ICC later noted that it was Bangladesh’s only win over Pakistan across their previous 48 encounters before the 2015 ODI series.
When did Bangladesh first beat Pakistan in a Test match?
Bangladesh won their first-ever Test against Pakistan in August 2024, defeating Pakistan by 10 wickets in Rawalpindi.
When did Bangladesh first win a Test series against Pakistan?
Bangladesh won their first Test series against Pakistan in 2024, completing a 2–0 sweep in Rawalpindi.
How many times has Bangladesh beaten Pakistan in a Test series?
Bangladesh had won two Test series against Pakistan by May 2026: the 2–0 series in Pakistan in 2024 and another 2–0 series at home in 2026.
When did Bangladesh first win an ODI series against Pakistan?
Bangladesh won their first bilateral ODI series against Pakistan in 2015, completing a 3–0 whitewash.
Who has the better overall record, Bangladesh or Pakistan?
Historically, Pakistan has the stronger overall record, particularly in Tests and T20Is. However, Bangladesh’s recent results have significantly changed the balance, especially after consecutive 2–0 Test series victories in 2024 and 2026.
What was Bangladesh’s biggest Test achievement against Pakistan?
Bangladesh’s biggest Test achievement was winning the 2024 series 2–0 in Pakistan, their first Test series victory against Pakistan. They followed it by winning another 2–0 series at home in 2026.
Did Bangladesh beat Pakistan in T20I cricket before 2024?
Yes. Bangladesh recorded their first T20I victory over Pakistan in April 2015, winning by seven wickets in Mirpur.
Conclusion: Bangladesh vs Pakistan Cricket Timeline
The Bangladesh national cricket team vs Pakistan national cricket team timeline is ultimately a story of transformation.
Pakistan dominated much of the early rivalry, but Bangladesh gradually built a stronger international side. The 1999 World Cup victory provided an early glimpse of what was possible, while the 2015 ODI whitewash established Bangladesh as a serious limited-overs competitor.
Then came the defining Test breakthroughs. Bangladesh won their first Test against Pakistan in 2024, swept the series 2–0, and repeated that feat with another 2–0 home series victory in 2026.
That makes the modern Bangladesh vs Pakistan cricket rivalry very different from the one fans watched two decades ago. Pakistan still has the stronger historical record in several formats, but Bangladesh has shown that history does not necessarily determine the next result.