Panama national cricket team

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 75th 51th (12-May-2019)
International cricket
First international1964 v Trinidad and Tobago at Panama
T20 Internationals
First T20Iv  Costa Rica at Reforma Athletic Club, Naucalpan; 25 April 2019
Last T20Iv  Brazil at Sao Fernando Polo and Cricket Club (Campo Sede), Itaguaí; 31 October 2025
T20Is Played Won/Lost
Total[3] 30 9/19
(0 ties, 2 no results)
This year[4] 0 0/0
(0 ties, 0 no results)
T20 World Cup Qualifier appearances1[a] (first in 2023)
Best result4th place (2023)

T20I kit

As of 31 December 2025

The Panama national cricket team represents Panama in international cricket. 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

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.

Grounds

Locations of all stadiums which have hosted international cricket matches within Panama

International competition

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 T20 World Cup Americas Regional Final

ICC T20 World Cup Americas Regional Final[b] records
Year Round Position GP W L T NR
2019 Did not qualify
2021 Round-robin 6/7 6 1 5 0 0
2023 Round-robin 4/4 6 0 4 0 2
2025 Did not qualify
Total 2/4 0 Title 12 1 9 0 2

ICC T20 World Cup Americas Sub-regional Qualifiers

ICC T20 World Cup Americas Sub-regional Qualifiers records
Year Round Position GP W L T NR
2018 Round-robin 3/4 6 1 5 0 0
2023 Round-robin
Advanced to Regional Final
3/5 4 1 3 0 0
2024 Round-robin 7/9 8 2 6 0 0
2026 To be determined
Total 3/3 0 Title 18 4 14 0 0

South American Championship

South American Cricket Championship records
Year Round Position GP W L T NR
1995 Did not participate
1997
1999
2000[10] Play-offs 4/7 3 2 1 0 1
2002 Did not participate
2004
2007
2009
2011
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2022
2023 Play-offs 7/8 4 2 2 0 0
2024 Champions 1/8 4 3 0 0 1
2025 In Progress
Total 3/19 0 Title 11 7 3 0 2

Central American Championship

Central American Championship records
Host/Year Round Position GP W L T NR
2001 Did not participate
2007
2009 Champions 1/5 4 4 0 0 0
2015 Champions 1/6 The full data of the tournament have not been found
2019 Round-robin 3/5 4 2 2 0 0
2024 Did not participate
2025 Champions 1/4 3 3 0 0 0
Total 4/7 3 Titles 11 9 2 0 0

Americas Affiliates Championship

Americas Affiliates Championship records
Year Round Position GP W L T NR
2001 Round-robin 4/6 The full data of the tournament have not been found
2004 Runners-up 2/5 The full data of the tournament have not been found
Total 2/2 0 Title 0 0 0 0 0

ICC Americas Championship Division Two

ICC Americas Championship records
Year Round Position GP W L T NR
2006 Round-robin 3/5 4 2 2 0 0
2008 Round-robin 3/4 3 2 1 0 0
2010 Round-robin 3/5 4 3 1 0 0
2011 Round-robin 2/6 5 3 2 0 0
2013 Round-robin 2/5 4 2 2 0 0
Total 5/5 0 Title 20 12 8 0 0

Current squad

Updated as on 17 April 2025

This lists all the active players who played for Panama in the 2025 Men's Central American Championship and the home series against Falkland Islands.

Name Age Batting style Bowling style Last T20I Note(s)
Batters
Faizan Patel 32 Right-handed Right-arm medium 2025
Mahmud Jasat 33 Left-handed Right-arm medium 2025
Yusuf Ebrahim 39 Right-handed Right-arm medium 2025
Rahul Ahir 30 Right-handed Right-arm medium 2025
Meet Ahir 25 Right-handed Right-arm medium 2025
Yusuf Kachhalia 30 Right-handed N/a 2024
All-rounders
Irfan Hafejee 43 Right-handed Right-arm medium 2025
Parth Jayeshbhai Patel 34 Right-handed Right-arm medium 2025
Breeze Ahir 25 Left-handed Leg break 2025
Abdullah Jasat 31 Right-handed Left-arm medium 2023
Ronitkumar Ahir 31 Right-handed Right-arm medium 2025
Wicket-keepers
Anilkumar Natubhai Patel 38 Right-handed Left-arm medium 2025 Captain
Laxman Gaonkar 37 Right-handed N/a 2025
Sohel Ebrahim Desai 28 Right-handed N/a 2024
Pace bowlers
Ahmed Patel 32 Right-handed Right-arm medium 2025
Nikunj Ahir 27 Right-handed Right-arm medium-fast 2023
Sohel Patel 38 Right-handed Right-arm medium 2023
Sanjay Kumar Ahir 33 Right-handed Right-arm medium 2025
Parth Suman Bhai Ahir 25 Right-handed Right-arm medium 2025

Records

International Match Summary — Panama[11]

Last updated 31 October 2025

Playing Record
Format M W L T NR Inaugural Match
Twenty20 Internationals 30 9 19 0 2 25 April 2019

Twenty20 International

T20I record versus other nations[11]

Records complete to T20I #3539. Last updated 30 October 2025.

Opponent M W L T NR First match First win
vs Associate Members
 Argentina 3 1 2 0 0 10 November 2021 25 February 2023
 Bahamas 3 1 2 0 0 13 November 2021 13 November 2021
 Belize 3 0 3 0 0 26 April 2019
 Bermuda 5 0 5 0 0 11 November 2021
 Brazil 2 0 1 0 1 12 December 2024
 Canada 2 0 2 0 0 14 November 2021
 Cayman Islands 3 0 3 0 0 2 March 2023
 Costa Rica 2 2 0 0 0 25 April 2019 25 April 2019
 Mexico 4 3 0 0 1 27 April 2019 27 April 2019
 Suriname 1 1 0 0 0 6 December 2024 6 December 2024
 Turks and Caicos Islands 1 1 0 0 0 17 April 2025 17 April 2025
 United States 1 0 1 0 0 7 November 2021

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "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 - 2026 Team records". ESPNcricinfo.
  5. ^ "The Home of CricketArchive". cricketarchive.co.uk.
  6. ^ Venezuela to play Panama this weekend at cricinfo.com
  7. ^ a b "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. Archived from the original on 8 October 2016. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  9. ^ "Cricket growing in Carolina". North State Journal. 26 September 2018. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  10. ^ "South American Cricket Championships 2000, Final Report". 11 December 2000.
  11. ^ a b "Records / Panama / Twenty20 Internationals / Result summary". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  12. ^ "Records / Panama / Twenty20 Internationals / Highest totals". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  13. ^ "Records / Panama / Twenty20 Internationals / High scores". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  14. ^ "Records / Panama / Twenty20 Internationals / Best bowling figures". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  15. ^ "Records / Panama / Twenty20 Internationals / Most runs". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  16. ^ "Records / Panama / Twenty20 Internationals / Most wickets". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 21 May 2019.

Notes

  1. ^ T20 World Cup Qualifier refers to the Regional Final of the ICC Americas region from the 2023 edition.
  2. ^ Regional Final of the ICC Americas region is the final stage of qualification for T20 World Cup from 2023 edition.