![Pakistan's past record in big tournament finals [Source: @XarMad_Official/X.com]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1758896593810_Pakistan_Asia_Cup_2025.jpg?type=hq)
Pakistan's past record in big tournament finals [Source: @XarMad_Official/X.com]
Pakistan have set up an epic showdown against India in the Asia Cup 2025 final. The Salman Agha-led side sealed their place in the decider by defeating Bangladesh by 11 runs in a virtual semi-final.
However, with 2 losses already to India in the same tournament, the pressure will be immense on the men in green as they chase continental glory.
Ahead of the marquee clash, it is interesting to take a look at Pakistan's past history of performance in multi-nation T20I tournament finals, a platform where they have tended to struggle to dominate.
Pakistan’s past record in T20I tournament finals
| Tournament | Opposition | Match result |
| ICC T20 World Cup 2007 | India | India win by 5 runs |
| ICC T20 World Cup 2009 | Sri Lanka | Pakistan win by 8 wickets |
| Men's T20 Asia Cup 2022 | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka win by 23 runs |
| ICC T20 World Cup 2022 | England | England win by 5 wickets |
(Table: Pakistan's record in major T20I tournament finals)
Traditionally, Pakistan have appeared in 4 finals for multi-team T20I tournaments: once in the Asia Cup and 3 times in the ICC T20 World Cup. They first appeared in a final in the first T20 World Cup held in 2007, in which they lost to India in a closely contested match.
In 2009, however, Pakistan gave their best performance in the format, beating Sri Lanka by eight wickets in the T20 World Cup final at Lord’s to secure their maiden ICC T20I title. This triumph marked a high point for the side, but it was followed by years of inconsistency.
After a prolonged gap, Pakistan qualified for two finals in 2022. In the Asia Cup that year, they lost to Sri Lanka by 23 runs, struggling to chase down a moderate total.
Later the same year, Pakistan faced England in the T20 World Cup final at the MCG. Batting first, they managed only 137 for 8 on a balanced surface where a score of 150-160 was achievable. England easily chased the runs and won the match by 5 wickets.
Why does Pakistan end up choking in high-pressure games?
The Pakistani cricket side has long been tagged as "chokers" in big-pressure finals, a tag that is based on a number of critical factors.
Mental fragility under pressure
Pakistan’s performances in finals have often been undermined by lapses in decision-making and execution. In the 2022 T20 World Cup final, the batting line-up failed to perform, ending up with a below-par total on a track that asked for greater purpose.
Inconsistent performances
Although Pakistan often perform well in group stages, form declines during finals. This inconsistency is worsened by constant changes in squads and captains, which interfere with continuity and stability.
High expectations and pressure
As a nation where cricket dominates the sporting culture, Pakistan carries the weight of massive expectations. Being compared to legends of the past and needing constant validation from fans and media adds an extra burden. This has led to recurrent failure in tight spots when the players have not been able to replicate their past performances.
Tactical shortcomings
Strategic errors have also played a role. During the final of the 2022 T20 World Cup, the injury to Shaheen Afridi exposed Pakistan's dependence on a handful of people. Ineffective bowling changes and insufficient depth in resources enabled opponents to dominate vital situations.
Psychological barriers
Several near-misses have also created a psychological barrier. Pakistan's "finals chokers" story has rooted itself deeply, and faith in big-pressure games has suffered. This is mainly with India, where Pakistan's poor record at ICC events has further increased pressure and led to undue errors.
Conclusion
Pakistan and their failure to deliver in finals cannot be blamed on a shortage of talent, as they are equipped with the ability to overcome the best as proved by history. The actual problem is how to tackle pressure, consistency, and implementation under high-pressure games. Unless the team strengthens its mental toughness and decision-making in crunch moments, the cycle of near-misses is likely to continue.
