Pakistan has produced some of the finest bowlers in the history of cricket, and its bowlers have played a crucial role in the team's success in T20I World Cups. With their unique skills and abilities, Pakistani bowlers have dominated the opposition and left a lasting impact on the tournament. In this article, we will look at the top 10 wicket-takers for Pakistan in T20I World Cups. These bowlers have not only taken wickets at crucial moments but have also put-up match-winning performances for their team by being extremely economical. Let's go!
1. Shahid Afridi
On the first place, we have Pakistan’s star all-rounder, Shahid Afridi. Shahid scalped 39 wickets in 34 innings in his T20I World Cup career. With the best bowling figures of 4/11, Afridi was quite economical, leaking only 6.71 runs per over. He was a leg-spinner, and his unorthodox bowling style often confused the opposition batsmen. His bowling played a significant role in Pakistan's triumph in the 2009 T20I World Cup, where he was the joint highest wicket-taker in the tournament.
2. Saeed Ajmal
Next on the list is Saeed Ahmed with 36 wickets. During 2009-2014, Saeed bowled with an average economy rate of 6.79 in 23 innings. He registered the best bowling figures of 4/19. He had a unique action that allowed him to generate a lot of spin and deception. Saeed Ajmal's ability to pick up wickets at crucial moments and keep the opposition under pressure made him a valuable asset for the Pakistani team.
3. Umar Gul
On number three, we have Umar Gul with 35 wickets during 2007-2014. In 24 innings, he bowled with an average economy rate of 7.30. He also recorded the phenomenal best bowling figures 5/6 during this tenure. He had a unique ability to bowl yorkers consistently, which made him a challenging bowler to face in the death overs.
4. Shadab Khan
Standing on the fourth place, with 20 wickets in just 13 innings, is Shadab Khan. He bowled with an incredible economy rate of 6.18. In the 2021 T20I World Cup, he played a crucial role in Pakistan's campaign and picked up 8 wickets in 5 matches. His performances in the tournament helped Pakistan reach the semi-finals, and he was one of the standout bowlers in the competition.
5. Shaheen Shah Afridi
With 18 wickets in 13 innings, Shaheen Shah Afridi is placed fifth in this list. He bowled with an economy rate of 6.58 runs per over and has the best bowling figures of 4/22. Shaheen's ability to swing the ball at pace and generate bounce makes him a challenging bowler to face in T20 cricket. He bowled a match-winning spell in the 2021 group stage match against India, where he picked up 3 wickets in his 4 overs.
6. Mohammad Amir
Next up on the list is Mohammad Amir. He bagged 17 wickets in 17 innings played between 2009 and 2016 T20I World Cups. Amir's ability to swing the ball at a high pace and deliver accurate yorkers has made him a challenging bowler to face. In the 2016 T20I World Cup, he picked up 11 wickets in 4 matches, including a crucial spell of 3 wickets in the group stage match against New Zealand.
7. Haris Rauf
Haris Rauf, with 16 wickets, takes the seventh spot on this list. With the best bowling figures of 4/22, he leaked runs at an economy rate of 7.06 runs per over. His ability to bowl at a high pace and deliver yorkers and slower balls makes him a challenging bowler to face in T20 cricket.
8. Mohammad Hafeez
On the eighth spot, we have Mohammad Hafeez with 14 wickets in 26 innings. He featured in T20I World Cups from 2007 to 2021 and had an economy rate of 7.58 runs per over. The right-arm off-spinner has consistently shown impressive performances and has played a significant role in restricting opposition teams from scoring big runs in the middle overs of the game.
9. Mohammad Sami
On number nine, we have Mohammad Sami with 10 wickets in only six innings. He had an extremely high economy rate of 9.57 runs per over. In the 2007 T20I World Cup, he was the leading wicket-taker for Pakistan, taking eight wickets in five matches. However, in the 2010 T20I World Cup, he had a forgettable campaign, taking only two wickets in four matches. Sami's bowling style is known for its pace and aggression.
10. Mohammad Asif
Last but not least, we have Mohammad Asif who scalped 10 wickets in 8 innings, and registered the best bowling figures of 4/18 during 2007-2010. He was known for his ability to swing the ball both ways and his pinpoint accuracy. Asif's international career was cut short due to his involvement in the infamous 2010 spot-fixing scandal, which led to his ban from cricket.
