Panama
AssociationPanama Cricket Association
Personnel
CaptainIrfan Tarajia
CoachJagdish Ahir
International Cricket Council
ICC statusAssociate member[1] (2017)
ICC regionAmericas
ICC Rankings Current[2] Best-ever
T20I 72nd 51st (12-May-2019)
International cricket
First international1964 v Trinidad and Tobago at Panama
Twenty20 Internationals
First T20Iv  Costa Rica at Reforma Athletic Club, Naucalpan; 25 April 2019
Last T20Iv  Bermuda at Bermuda National Stadium, Hamilton; 4 October 2023
T20Is Played Won/Lost
Total[3] 17 4/13
(0 ties, 0 no results)
This year[4] 0 0/0
(0 ties, 0 no results)
As of 1 January 2024

The Panama national cricket team represents Panama in international cricket competitions. The Panama Cricket Association became an affiliate member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2002[5] and is an associate member since 2017.[1] Their international debut is believed to have taken place against a side from Trinidad and Tobago in 1964.[6]

In April 2018, the ICC decided to grant full Twenty20 International (T20I) status to all its members. Therefore, all Twenty20 matches played between Panama and other ICC members after 1 January 2019 will be eligible to have full T20I status.[7]

History

Panama team during a T20I match against Bermuda for the 2023 ICC Men's T20 World Cup Americas Qualifier.

Cricket was introduced to Panama by colonials from the West Indies during the creation of the Panama Canal. After the colonials left the country, most of the nation's attention was turned to cricket. The growing number of inhabitants of Indian origin created a group called the Indian Society.[8] The purpose of this society was to create opportunities for relationships and to find new venues in which cricket could be played. Due to this effort, the popularity of the game grew. Panama joined the ICC as an Affiliate Member in 2002 and since then, cricket has been flourishing among the younger population of the country.

2018-Present

In April 2018, the ICC decided to grant full Twenty20 International (T20I) status to all its members. Therefore, all Twenty20 matches played between Panama and other ICC members after 1 January 2019 will be a full T20I.[7]

In September 2018,Panama took part in 2018–19 ICC T20 World Cup Americas Qualifier, finished on 3rd place in Northern Sub Region.[9]

Panama played their first ever Twenty20 International match against Costa Rica in 2019 Central American Cricket Championship.

25 April 2019
11:30
Scorecard
Costa Rica 
112/5 (20 overs)
v
 Panama
113/3 (15.4 overs)
Joel Cutinho 32 (37)
Dilip Dahyabhai Ahir 2/11 (2 overs)
Yusuf Ebrahim 35* (23)
Zain ul Tashnam 1/16 (4 overs)
Panama won by 7 wickets
Reforma Athletic Club, Naucalpan
Umpires: Bob Baxter (Mex) and Dilip Pachichigar (Mex)
Player of the match: Imran Bulbulia (Pan)
  • Costa Rica won the toss and elected to bat.
  • First ever T20I match for Panama.

International competition

Panama at the 2023 ICC Americas Sub-Regional Qualifier in Argentina

The team's first international matches in recent years came in a friendly series played against Venezuela in 2000, which Panama won 1–0. Panama was invited to play in the fourth South American Cricket Championships later that year. The team performed well in its first international tournament, finishing fourth of the seven teams.

Panama has been playing without the services of a national coach. Playing in recent regional ICC tournaments, Panama has finished second and third, ahead of countries such as Belize, Brazil, and Turks and Caicos. The most recent participation came in the 2010 Americas Division Two, held in the Bahamas, where the team won three matches out of four and only missed out on promotion on net run-rate.

Development programme

The chief concern is the loss of cricket grounds. During recent years, four grounds have been lost to soccer due to financial difficulties. The Panama Cricket Association is therefore looking to a secure a ground for its national players.

Plans are being made to start coaching for junior players but once again this is limited by finances as use of a gym is required, due to a rainy season that lasts for eight months of the year.

Progress in Tournaments since 2002

In 2002, Panama was granted affiliate status by the ICC along with a number of other countries in the Americas Region. Two years later, they hosted their first international tournament, the Americas Affiliate Championships. They finished as runners up to the Bahamas, just missing out on qualification for the ICC Americas Championship.

The affiliates tournament was expanded to a multi-division competition in 2006, and Panama was placed in Division Two. They finished third in that tournament, which was played in Argentina, behind the hosts and the Bahamas. They retained their place in Division Two for 2008. In this part of the competition, played in Suriname, Panama finished in third place and remained in the division for the next cycle, in 2010. In the same year, Panama also finished in 3rd place behind Suriname and the hosts, the Bahamas. In the 2011 Championship, Panama stayed as runners-up behind Suriname in Division 2.

Panama entered and hosted the Central American Championships for the first time in 2009. They came in as favorites, being the strongest Central American international side, and won the competition. The tournament was their first international Twenty20 competition.

Panama also took part in the America Regional T20 3rd Division Championship in Buenos Aires, Argentina in March 2014.

Tournament history

ICC Americas Championship

  • 2000: Did not participate
  • 2002: Did not participate
  • 2004: Did not participate
  • 2006: 3rd place (Division Two)
  • 2008: 3rd place (Division Two)
  • 2010: 3rd place (Division Two)
  • 2011: 2nd place (Division Two)
  • 2013: 2nd place (Division Two)

Americas Affiliate Championships

  • 2001: 4th place
  • 2004: 2nd place

South American Cricket Championships

  • 2000: 4th place [10]

Central American Championships

  • 2006: Did not participate
  • 2007: Did not participate
  • 2009: Winners
  • 2015: Winners[11]
  • 2019: 3rd place

ICC T20 World Cup Americas Qualifier

Players

Panama's squad for 2023 ICC Men's T20 World Cup Americas Qualifier from 25 February to 04 march 2023.

  • Anilkumar Natubhai Ahir (wk)
  • Khengar Bhai Ahir
  • Nikunj Ahir
  • Rahul Ahir
  • Vishal Ahir
  • Irfan Hafejee (c)
  • Abdullah Jasat
  • Mahmud Jasat
  • Ahmadi Rawat
  • Ahmed Patel
  • Faizan Patel
  • Huzaifa Patel (wk)
  • Sohel Patel
  • Mohmad Sohel Patel

Records

International Match Summary — Panama[12]

Last updated 4 October 2023

Playing Record
FormatMWLTNRInaugural Match
Twenty20 Internationals174130025 April 2019

Twenty20 International

T20I record versus other nations[12]

Records complete to T20I #2289. Last updated 4 October 2023.

OpponentMWLTNRFirst matchFirst win
vs Associate Members
 Argentina2110010 November 202125 February 2023
 Bahamas2110013 November 202113 November 2021
 Belize2020026 April 2019
 Bermuda4040011 November 2021
 Canada2020014 November 2021
 Cayman Islands202002 March 2023
 Costa Rica1100025 April 201925 April 2019
 Mexico1100027 April 201927 April 2019
 United States101007 November 2021

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Ireland and Afghanistan ICC newest full members amid wide-ranging governance reform". International Cricket Council. 22 June 2017. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  2. "ICC Rankings". International Cricket Council.
  3. "T20I matches - Team records". ESPNcricinfo.
  4. "T20I matches - 2024 Team records". ESPNcricinfo.
  5. "The Home of CricketArchive". cricketarchive.co.uk.
  6. Venezuela to play Panama this weekend at cricinfo.com
  7. 1 2 "All T20 matches between ICC members to get international status". International Cricket Council. 26 April 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  8. "Panama - Affiliate Members - ICC Members - ICC Cricket". icc-cricket.com.
  9. "Cricket growing in Carolina". North State Journal. 26 September 2018. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  10. "South American Cricket Championships 2000, Final Report" – ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  11. "Central American Championship, Panama City, 2015" – Cricket Peru. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
  12. 1 2 "Records / Panama / Twenty20 Internationals / Result summary". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  13. "Records / Panama / Twenty20 Internationals / Highest totals". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  14. "Records / Panama / Twenty20 Internationals / High scores". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  15. "Records / Panama / Twenty20 Internationals / Best bowling figures". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  16. "Records / Panama / Twenty20 Internationals / Most runs". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  17. "Records / Panama / Twenty20 Internationals / Most wickets". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
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