Cricket
By The Numbers: Identifying the Pakistan Super League's Statistically Least Successful Team
Islamabad United are the most successful team in Pakistan Super League history, but which team has the worst record? SportsBoom has analysed the data to see which franchise struggles the most.
Hasan Ali is clean bowled by Shaheen Shah Afridi//Getty Images
With the 10th edition of the Pakistan Super League at the halfway point, anticipation is building for the playoffs and final in less than a month.
As one of the most hyped events on the domestic T20 calendar, teams like Islamabad United are pulling out all the stops to defend their title.
However, not all franchises have enjoyed consistent success, struggling to find the winning formula and unable to replicate past victories.
SportsBoom has looked at the least successful PSL team, based specifically on the lowest win percentage and win-loss ratio across seasons.
This article has analysed the historical data from all 10 editions, including 2025, to see which of the cricket T20 league teams have struggled.
Most Unsuccessful PSL Team: Understanding the Metrics
To determine the least successful team in Pakistan Super League history, three core metrics have been considered:
- Win percentage: This reflects the number of matches a team has won out of their total matches played
- Loss percentage: This metric looks at how many matches a team has lost out of PSL games they competed in
- Win/loss ratio: This statistic compares a franchise’s wins against their losses directly
Based on these metrics, a win/loss (W/L) ratio of below 1.0 would indicate that a team had lost more times than they had won.
Worst PSL Team Record: Performance Breakdown
Analysing the win/loss records of the current teams across the PSL’s history reveals varying levels of success.
SportsBoom has crunched the numbers, and here is how franchises stack up based on the provided statistics:
Worst PSL Team Record
| Team | Span | Matches | Won | Lost | Tie+W | Tie+L | W/L | W% | L% | Results |
| Islamabad United | 2016-2025 | 103 | 58 | 44 | 1 | 0 | 1.318 | 56.31 | 42.71 | 56.79 |
| Multan Sultans | 2018-2025 | 81 | 45 | 33 | 0 | 1 | 1.363 | 55.55 | 40.74 | 57.59 |
| Peshawar Zalmi | 2016-2025 | 106 | 55 | 49 | 1 | 0 | 1.122 | 51.88 | 46.22 | 52.85 |
| Quetta Gladiators | 2016-2025 | 94 | 45 | 48 | 0 | 0 | 0.937 | 47.87 | 51.06 | 48.38 |
| Lahore Qalandars | 2016-2025 | 97 | 42 | 52 | 1 | 2 | 0.807 | 43.29 | 53.60 | 44.84 |
| Karachi Kings | 2016-2025 | 97 | 37 | 56 | 1 | 1 | 0.66 | 38.14 | 57.73 | 40.00 |
Karachi Kings' Pakistani allrounder Khushdil Shah//Getty Images
PSL Lowest Win Percentage: Identifying the Statistically Least Successful Team
Based on the PSL team performance analysis table and the key metrics, Karachi Kings is statistically the worst performer in the league.
The Karachi-based franchise has the lowest win/loss ratio, claiming victory in less than half of the tournament matches they’ve competed in.
Karachi also has the highest percentage of losses (more than half at 57.73%), despite boasting top-tier talent and a strong backing from fans.
Comparatively, Islamabad United and Multan Sultans have both showcased their squad depth and development to boast high W/L ratings.
IU, in particular, is the most successful team in PSL history with three titles, which is reflected in their win percentage, almost reaching 57%.
Similarly, MS, despite being a relative newcomer, has become a dominant force and has maintained a win/loss ratio exceeding 55%.
On the other end of the spectrum, both Lahore Qalandars and Quetta Gladiators have overall losing records and win rates of below 50%.
However, Karachi Kings’ PSL record stats have given them an unfortunate distinction of being the statistically weakest of the six teams.
2025 is anticipated to be the last six-team Pakistan Super League, with two more franchises expected to participate from the 2026 edition onwards, similar to Multan Sultans joining as a sixth team in 2018.
Pakistan Super League Win/Loss Records: Factors Beyond the Numbers
It is worth noting that while the data paints Karachi Kings as the least successful PSL team, the numbers do not capture the whole story.
The franchise remains a one-time PSL champion, with their victorious 2020 campaign proving that they could still rise to the occasion.
PSL matches involving Karachi are also said to be among the most watched, with many anticipating great things on the horizon.
The team has also helped highlight the talents of several Pakistani players, who have become important players on the global stage.
However, the objective view of this article makes it difficult to consider Karachi Kings one of the PSL’s elite, based purely on the stats.
Karachi Kings' Hasan Ali bowls during the PSL//Getty Images
PSL Team Stats Comparison - The Bottom Line
In 10 seasons, the Pakistan Super League has grown in standing, attracting international stars and serving as a launchpad for Pakistan’s international stars.
For Karachi Kings, the intense pressure of the T20 format and the demands of the league and fans have put them under pressure to deliver positive results.
Despite winning the PSL trophy in 2020, the franchise has struggled to remain competitive and has been unable to reach the heights of that campaign again.
However, it’s not all doom and gloom - with Australian legend David Warner at the helm, Karachi Kings have held down second place on the 2025 standings.
Even with the T20 league team’s struggles, their past failures could be the key to seeing the Kings dethrone Islamabad United and win it another time.
A team's historical win/loss record, particularly a low win percentage like Karachi Kings' shown here, often influences betting markets, potentially leading to longer odds or favourable handicap lines against them, reflecting their past struggles.
Bruce Douglas has more than 12 years of experience in local news media. He has worked at all levels of print and online publication, from crime and politics to photography, newspaper layout, proofreading, mentoring, sub-editing, and leading a newsroom. He played numerous sports at the school level and enjoys keeping up to date.