The land of Pakistan is famous for producing one of the finest and best bowlers in cricket. Bowling has always been one of Pakistan's strongholds and they have never run short of talented and skilful bowlers. Today we look at some of the Pakistani bowlers to bowl the highest number of balls in Test cricket and their other achievements.
1. Wasim Akram
Number one on our list to feature is Wasim Akram, arguably one of the best left-arm fast bowlers of all-time and a Pakistani cricket legend. Having made his Test debut in 1985 against New Zealand at Auckland, Wasim played for Pakistan in a total of 104 matches until 2002. In the 104 matches he played, he bowled 22,627 balls, picking up 414 wickets while giving away 9779 runs.
2. Imran Khan
At number two we have Imran Khan, Pakistan’s World Cup winning captain and also a former Prime Minister of Pakistan. Imran used to bowl right-arm fast and played his first Test match in 1971 against England at Birmingham. He played in international Test cricket until 1992 and bowled 19,458 balls in 88 matches.
3. Danish Kaneria
At number three we have Danish Kaneria, who was a right-arm leg-break bowler from Karachi, Sind. Danish played his first Test match in 2000 against England at Faisalabad and continued playing Test cricket until 2010. He played in 61 Test matches and bowled 17,697 balls with 261 wickets to his name at an average of 34.79.
4. Abdul Qadir
At number four, there is Abdul Qadir, the right-arm leg-break googly bowler from Lahore, Punjab. Qadir is still considered one of Pakistan’s finest leg spinners of all time. From 1977 to 1990, he was seen playing for Pakistan in 67 Test matches. In the 67 matches he played, he bowled 17,126 balls, picking up 238 wickets at an average of 32.80.
5. Waqar Younis
At number five, we have Waqar Younis, a former right-arm fast bowler for Pakistan, a former coach and a commentator as well. Waqar’s Test career spanned from 1989 to 2003, during which he featured in 87 Test matches. In 87 matches, he managed to bowl 16,224 balls and pick up 373 wickets at an impressive average of 23.56.
6. Yasir Shah
At number six on the list comes Yasir Shah, a right-arm leg-spinner from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Yasir first played for Pakistan in a Test match in 2014 against Australia at Dubai, and since then he has been an integral part of the Pakistani Test team. In 48 matches so far, he has bowled 14,255 balls with 244 wickets to his name.
7. Saqlain Mushtaq
At number seven, we have Saqlain Mushtaq, a right-arm off-break bowler from Lahore, Punjab. Saqlain is also the current head coach of the Pakistani team. He played Test cricket from 1995 to 2004 and featured in a total of 49 matches. In 86 innings, he bowled 14,070 balls and took 208 wickets at an average of 29.83.
8. Sarfaraz Nawaz
At number eight, we have Sarfaraz Nawaz, a right-arm fast medium bowler from Lahore, Punjab. Nawaz was first seen playing for Pakistan in Test cricket in 1969 against England in Karachi. He played in 55 Test matches and bowled 19,651 balls and picked up 177 wickets at an average of 32.75. In 1984, he played his last match against England at Lahore.
9. Iqbal Qasim
At number nine we have Iqbal Qasim, a slow left-arm orthodox bowler from Karachi, Sind. In 1976, Qasim made his Test debut against Australia at Adelaide and played in 50 Tests for Pakistan until 1988. In 86 innings, he bowled 13,019 balls and took 171 wickets at an average of 28.11.
10. Mushtaq Ahmed
At number ten is Mushtaq Ahmed, a right-arm leg break bowler from Sahiwal, Punjab. Mushtaq played his first Test match in 1990 against Australia at Adelaide. He played in 52 matches and bowled 12,532 balls in 89 innings, picking up 185 wickets at an average of 32.97. He played his last match in 2003 against South Africa in Faisalabad.