Benaud-Qadir Trophy
The Benaud Qadir Trophy remains one of Test cricket’s most intriguing bilateral contests, celebrating the legacy of two iconic leg-spin masters, Richie Benaud and Abdul Qadir. Australia and Pakistan have shared a rich rivalry for decades, and this trophy brings that history into a modern, high-stakes format that Indian cricket fans follow closely. Their contrasting styles often create gripping sessions and momentum swings that appeal to both traditional Test lovers and today’s analytics-driven cricket audience. The trophy has been contested since 2023-2024 and forms part of the ICC World Test Championship cycle.
The latest edition of the Benaud Qadir Trophy took place during 2023-2024, from December 6, 2023 to January 7, 2024, when Pakistan toured Australia. Australia dominated the three-match series 3-0, showcasing their depth across conditions. The final Test in Sydney saw Australia chase down a modest target to seal the clean sweep. With this result, Australia remain the current title holders, strengthening their position as the most successful team in the short history of the trophy.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)
Introduction
The Benaud-Qadir Trophy stands as the formal Test cricket prize contested between Australia and Pakistan, created in 2022 to honour Richie Benaud and Abdul Qadir, two leg-spinners whose influence shaped the cricketing identities of both nations. Its introduction marked a new chapter in a rivalry stretching back to 1956, bringing a unified title to bilateral Test series between the two sides. The trophy also reflects how long-term scheduling and the return of regular tours have helped sustain this contest across eras when tours were affected by travel gaps, neutral venues and shifting competitive cycles. With Australia and Pakistan having contested 26 Test series before the trophy was introduced, the award adds structure and continuity to a fixture that has historically produced contrasting conditions and memorable individual performances.
Its naming carries cultural weight: Benaud’s leadership and commentary shaped Australia’s cricketing voice, while Qadir’s artistry revived wrist-spin for an entire generation. By linking these leg-spin legacies, the trophy symbolizes shared heritage rather than rivalry alone, and reinforces Test cricket’s prestige at a time when boards and broadcasters are working to keep the longest format central to the sport’s global narrative. The PCB and Cricket Australia positioned the trophy as a perpetual award, ensuring that every Test series between the two sides contributes to a broader storyline that fans can follow across years.
The contest itself has also featured within the ICC World Test Championship cycle, giving recent series competitive stakes beyond tradition. Australia’s and Pakistan’s contrasting home environments, travel histories and periods of neutral hosting have shaped how the rivalry evolved, making the Benaud-Qadir Trophy a modern anchor for a fixture that spans decades of cricketing change. For readers who want a deeper cultural and historical angle, IndiaBetMaster.com offers extended coverage across formats, milestones and archival context that enriches the understanding of how this trophy fits into the wider cricketing landscape.
To explore the same subject in another voice and gain additional context on terminology and historical nuances, you can also read the article in Hindi (बेनो-कादिर ट्रॉफी हिंदी समीक्षा), which provides a compact linguistic perspective while keeping the core information aligned with the main section.
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Current Season
Australia and Pakistan played a three-match Test series for the Benaud-Qadir Trophy from 14 December 2023 to 6 January 2024, held across Perth, Melbourne and Sydney. The series featured two teams and three Tests, with Australia winning all three matches to win the trophy.
The 2023-2024 edition carried a familiar structure: a traditional three-Test tour forming part of the ICC World Test Championship cycle, scheduled during the Australian summer when crowds, broadcasters and travel logistics naturally favour long-format cricket. Perth hosted the opening Test, Melbourne staged the Boxing Day fixture and Sydney delivered the New Year finish, maintaining the cultural rhythm that shapes Australia’s home season. Each venue offered its own flavour, from Perth’s pace-friendly bounce to the MCG’s festive atmosphere and the SCG’s spin-friendly reputation. The three Tests were played across three of Australia’s established international cricket venues, giving the series a distinct Australian summer setting.
On the field, Australia dominated the series 3-0, winning by 360 runs in Perth, 79 runs in Melbourne and eight wickets in Sydney. Pat Cummins led the wicket charts with 19 dismissals, while Aamer Jamal impressed for Pakistan with 18. Mitchell Marsh topped the run tally with 344, followed by David Warner’s 299 and Usman Khawaja’s 220. These numbers underline how Australia’s core group controlled key phases across conditions, while Pakistan showed patches of resistance but struggled to convert sessions into match-winning positions. Match fees and prize money for bilateral Test tours are not publicly itemized by either board, so financial comparisons with domestic competitions are not included in this series summary.
Compared to earlier seasons, the 2023-2024 edition did not introduce structural changes, but it established the trophy as a new marker for the Australia-Pakistan Test rivalry. The scheduling followed the traditional three-Test format, with Perth, Melbourne and Sydney hosting the matches and the competitive stakes aligned with the WTC framework. The Boxing Day Test at the MCG also continued the long-standing tradition of featuring Australia in Melbourne during the festive period, while the Sydney Test provided the customary New Year finish.
Future editions of the Benaud-Qadir Trophy will depend on the bilateral Test schedule agreed between Australia and Pakistan and their place within future ICC World Test Championship cycles. As a trophy created specifically for Test encounters between the two nations, its next chapter will be determined by when the teams are again scheduled to meet in a bilateral Test series.
Ongoing September 2026 Events
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ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Test | June 17, 2025 – June 13, 2027 | LIVE |
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Caribbean Premier League (CPL) T20 | August 7, 2026 – September 20, 2026 | LIVE |
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England vs Pakistan Test | August 19, 2026 – September 13, 2026 | LIVE |
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European T20 Premier League (ETPL) T20 | August 26, 2026 – September 20, 2026 | LIVE |
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Women's Asia Cup T20I | August 28, 2026 – September 13, 2026 | LIVE |
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Women's Caribbean Premier League (WCPL) T20 | September 5–17, 2026 | LIVE |
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Minor League Cricket (MiLC) T20 | September 17, 2026 – October 25, 2026 | |
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Cricket at the Asian Games T20I | September 17, 2026 – October 3, 2026 | |
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South Africa vs Australia Tour | September 24, 2026 – October 31, 2026 |
Ongoing September 2026 Events
|
ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Test | June 17, 2025 – June 13, 2027 | LIVE |
|
ICC Women's Championship ODI | February 20, 2026 – April 15, 2029 | LIVE |
|
County Championship FC | April 3, 2026 – September 27, 2026 | LIVE |
|
Women's One-Day Cup List A | April 11, 2026 – September 20, 2026 | LIVE |
|
One-Day Cup List A | July 21, 2026 – September 20, 2026 | LIVE |
|
Caribbean Premier League (CPL) T20 | August 7, 2026 – September 20, 2026 | LIVE |
|
England vs Pakistan Test | August 19, 2026 – September 13, 2026 | LIVE |
|
Duleep Trophy FC | August 23, 2026 – September 10, 2026 | |
|
European T20 Premier League (ETPL) T20 | August 26, 2026 – September 20, 2026 | LIVE |
|
Women's Asia Cup T20I | August 28, 2026 – September 13, 2026 | LIVE |
|
Women's Caribbean Premier League (WCPL) T20 | September 5–17, 2026 | LIVE |
|
Minor League Cricket (MiLC) T20 | September 17, 2026 – October 25, 2026 | |
|
Cricket at the Asian Games T20I | September 17, 2026 – October 3, 2026 | |
|
South Africa vs Australia Tour | September 24, 2026 – October 31, 2026 |
Previous Seasons
The Benaud-Qadir Trophy was introduced in 2022 as the perpetual trophy for Australia–Pakistan men’s Test series, created to honour Richie Benaud and Abdul Qadir and give the long-running rivalry a permanent identity. Although the contest itself dates back decades, the trophy brought a unified identity to these bilateral Tests and was introduced alongside the ICC World Test Championship series in 2022. Australia became the inaugural holders after winning the 2021-2022 series in Pakistan, and they retained the trophy in the 2023-2024 series in Australia.
Past Benaud-Qadir Trophy Editions
- 2023-2024 Series (Australia)
The 2023-2024 Benaud-Qadir Trophy was held in Australia from 14 December 2023 to 6 January 2024, played across Perth, Melbourne and Sydney. The series followed the traditional three-Test format of the Australian summer, with the Boxing Day Test at the MCG and the New Year Test at the SCG drawing major attention. Australia won the series 3-0, retaining the trophy after victories in all three Tests. The final Test in Sydney ended with an eight-wicket result, completing a sweep after Australia had also won the opening Test in Perth by 360 runs and the second Test in Melbourne by 79 runs.
This edition continued the bilateral Test rivalry within the ICC World Test Championship framework and marked another regular Test tour by Pakistan to Australia. The series also carried particular significance as it included David Warner’s final Test match, with the Sydney Test providing the setting for the Australian opener’s international Test farewell. The three venues and the traditional Australian summer schedule again gave the rivalry a prominent place in the Test calendar.
- 2021-2022 Series (Pakistan) (Inaugural Season)
The inaugural Benaud-Qadir Trophy series took place in Pakistan in 2021-2022, marking Australia’s first Test tour of the country since 1998. Played in March 2022 across Rawalpindi, Karachi and Lahore, the three-Test series ended 1-0 in Australia’s favour. The first two Tests were drawn, with Karachi producing one of Pakistan’s most memorable fourth-innings rearguards. Australia secured the trophy with a 115-run win in Lahore, completing a historic tour that blended competitive cricket with major cultural significance.
This edition was notable for its logistical and security context, as hosting Australia after a 24-year gap represented a major milestone for Pakistan cricket. Strong local interest and the return of high-profile Test cricket to Pakistan added to the significance of the tour. The unveiling of the trophy before the first Test also established its identity, connecting the modern Australia-Pakistan rivalry with the leg-spin legacies of Richie Benaud and Abdul Qadir.
| Season | Champion | Runner-up | Final Result | Event / Final Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benaud-Qadir Trophy | ||||
| 2023-2024 | Australia | Pakistan | Australia won 3-0 (3 Tests) | Australia |
| 2021-2022 | Australia | Pakistan | Australia won 1-0 (3 Tests) | Pakistan |
| Test Series | ||||
| 2019-2020 | Australia | Pakistan | Australia won 2-0 (2 Tests) | Australia |
| 2018-2019 | Pakistan | Australia | Pakistan won 1-0 (2 Tests) | United Arab Emirates |
| 2016-2017 | Australia | Pakistan | Australia won 3-0 (3 Tests) | Australia |
| 2014-2015 | Pakistan | Australia | Pakistan won 2-0 (2 Tests) | United Arab Emirates |
| 2010 | -- | -- | Series drawn 1-1 (2 Tests) | England |
| 2009-2010 | Australia | Pakistan | Australia won 3-0 (3 Tests) | Australia |
| 2004-2005 | Australia | Pakistan | Australia won 3-0 (3 Tests) | Australia |
| 2002-2003 | Australia | Pakistan | Australia won 3-0 (3 Tests) | Sri Lanka and United Arab Emirates |
| 1999-2000 | Australia | Pakistan | Australia won 3-0 (3 Tests) | Australia |
| 1998-1999 | Australia | Pakistan | Australia won 1-0 (3 Tests) | Pakistan |
| 1995-1996 | Australia | Pakistan | Australia won 2-1 (3 Tests) | Australia |
| 1994-1995 | Pakistan | Australia | Pakistan won 1-0 (3 Tests) | Pakistan |
| 1989-1990 | Australia | Pakistan | Australia won 1-0 (3 Tests) | Australia |
| 1988-1989 | Pakistan | Australia | Pakistan won 1-0 (3 Tests) | Pakistan |
| 1983-1984 | Australia | Pakistan | Australia won 2-0 (5 Tests) | Australia |
| 1982-1983 | Pakistan | Australia | Pakistan won 3-0 (3 Tests) | Pakistan |
| 1981-1982 | Australia | Pakistan | Australia won 2-1 (3 Tests) | Australia |
| 1979-1980 | Pakistan | Australia | Pakistan won 1-0 (3 Tests) | Pakistan |
| 1978-1979 | -- | -- | Series drawn 1-1 (2 Tests) | Australia |
| 1976-1977 | -- | -- | Series drawn 1-1 (3 Tests) | Australia |
| 1972-1973 | Australia | Pakistan | Australia won 3-0 (3 Tests) | Australia |
| 1964-1965 | -- | -- | Series drawn 0-0 (1 Test) | Pakistan |
| 1964-1965 | -- | -- | Series drawn 0-0 (1 Test) | Australia |
| 1959-1960 | Australia | Pakistan | Australia won 2-0 (3 Tests) | Pakistan |
| 1956-1957 | Pakistan | Australia | Pakistan won 1-0 (1 Test) | Pakistan |
* Refers only to Test cricket encounters
History and Structure
The Benaud-Qadir Trophy was created to honor the lasting contributions of two cricket giants, Richie Benaud, and Abdul Qadir, to their home countries and the game of cricket around the world. The prize was announced in March 2022 during Australia's famous tour of Pakistan. It gave all future Test games between the two countries more historical weight and competitive importance. Cricket Australia (CA) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) are making an effort to make the competition more important by making sure that every Test match is worth more than just one series point.
We made a great choice when we named the prize after Benaud and Qadir. Benaud, a powerful leg-spinner and captain, changed the way Australian cricket was played in the late 1950s and early 1960s. He later became one of the most respected commentators in cricket history. Abdul Qadir, a Pakistani leg-spinner who broke new ground, brought wrist-spin back into popularity in the 1970s and 1980s. His skill and trickery inspired a whole school of bowlers. Both were skilled, smart, and fun to watch play cricket, which made them the perfect choices for a prize that was meant to make Test cricket more interesting and competitive.
Structure of the Competition
The Benaud-Qadir trophy is not a separate event. Instead, it is a permanent prize given to the winner of every Test match played between Australia and Pakistan. These series usually happen as part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. This means that the points each team earns in these games affect their position in the championship table, where they compete for a spot in the WTC final.
The Benaud-Qadir Trophy series usually has three Test matches. The host country changes every so often, so both sides can play in situations that are both familiar and difficult. In Australia, pitches tend to be fast and bouncey, while in Pakistan and, historically, neutral places like the UAE, pitches tend to be better for spin as the game goes on. Understanding these different situations is a key part of making good Benaud Qadir Trophy match play tactics.
The ICC World Test Championship adds another level of interest. Teams are not only competing for the trophy but also for important WTC points. This makes the battle tougher because every session, catch, and run can have a big effect on their chances of winning the title. This natural pressure can make players make bold statements, take more chances with their strategy, and have more exciting endings, all of which are good for fans and people who play cricket online Benaud Qadir Trophy.
The tours are planned through the ICC Future Tours Programme (FTP), which makes sure that the race is fair. Fans and bettors can look forward to and get ready for these big games with this organized method, which makes the award more interesting overall.
Final Thoughts
The Benaud-Qadir Trophy has quickly become one of Test cricket’s meaningful markers of tradition, identity and rivalry. By honouring Richie Benaud and Abdul Qadir, the contest bridges eras and celebrates the shared leg-spin heritage that shaped both nations’ cricketing stories. Even with only a few editions played so far, the trophy has added a clear narrative thread to Australia–Pakistan Test encounters, giving fans a defined structure to follow within the broader World Test Championship landscape. Its presence ensures that every series between the two sides carries historical weight, cultural depth and a sense of continuity that strengthens the long-format game.
Across the editions held to date, the competition has showcased contrasting conditions, travel cultures and cricketing philosophies. Australia’s home summers bring packed stadiums, iconic holiday fixtures and fast, bouncy surfaces, while Pakistan’s venues offer subcontinental rhythms, spin-friendly tracks and deeply engaged local crowds. These differences enrich the rivalry and keep the trophy relevant for fans who appreciate how Test cricket evolves across geography and time. The series have also highlighted how bilateral contests can retain significance even in an era dominated by multi-format scheduling, with the trophy acting as a stable anchor for long-form cricket between the two nations.
As the trophy continues to find its place in modern cricket, its value lies not only in results but in the stories it preserves. Each edition adds another layer to a rivalry that stretches back generations, reminding fans why Test cricket remains the sport’s most expressive format. The Benaud-Qadir Trophy stands as a symbol of respect, heritage and competitive spirit, and its future editions will continue to shape how Australia and Pakistan define their cricketing relationship within the global game.
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