Salman Ali Agha Breaks World Record, Surpasses Dravid, Yousuf, and Dhoni

RAWALPINDI: T20I captain of Pakistan, Salman Ali Agha, has set the record for most international matches played in one calendar year, surpassing legends such as Rahul Dravid, MS Dhoni, and Mohammad Yousuf.  

On Sunday, he set the record in a 69-run victory of Pakistan in the T20I tri-series against Zimbabwe at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.  

Pakistan has played 54 international matches in 2025, and the West Indies has played 45.  

The only player to feature in all of these matches this year is Salman Ali Agha, who is a key player of the Pakistan award-winning team across all formats.

Remarkably, this tally also matches Pakistan’s record for the most international matches in a calendar year, a record first set in 2013.

By playing in 54 matches, Agha surpassed the previous joint record of 53 appearances, held by Dravid (1999), Yousuf (2000), and Dhoni (2007).

The achievement of surpassing 50 international matches in a calendar year is rare. Sachin Tendulkar was the first to reach this feat in 1997, and Daryl Mitchell of New Zealand more recently played 51 matches in 2023.

Most International Matches in a Calendar Year

2025

• Salman Ali Agha (Pakistan) - 54

1999

• Rahul Dravid (India) - 53

2000

• Mohammad Yousuf (Pakistan) - 53
   
• Lance Klusener (South Africa) - 52

2007

• MS Dhoni (India/Asia XI) - 53
   
• Paul Collingwood (England) - 52

2014

• Angelo Mathews (Sri Lanka) - 52

1997

• Sachin Tendulkar (India) - 51

2023

• Daryl Mitchell (New Zealand) - 51