Asian teams had some world-class fast bowlers who were great exponents at seaming and swinging the ball in both directions. Seamers have provided heavy artillery to a team’s bowling attack by running through batting line-ups and winning matches by bowling long tiring spells. Pakistan is known to be a land of fast bowlers. Besides Pakistan, India, and Sri Lanka have also produced some great fast bowlers. Presenting you the Top 10 Fast Bowlers of Asia:
1. Wasim Akram
He is known as the greatest swing bowler of all time. Akram is the second-highest wicket-taker in One-day Internationals, with 502 wickets from 356 matches at an average of 23.52 with an economy of 5.36. Akram has taken four hat-tricks in ODIs and tests. Akram invented the art of the reverse swing. Wasim’s highest score on the test is 256.
2. Waqar Younis
Waqar was known to be the deadliest swing bowler in the 90s. He could reverse the ball at a great pace in both directions. Younis was the youngest bowler to take 400 wickets in One day International. Waqar was banned for tampering with the ball in 2000. Waqar had one of the best strike rates in one-day cricket. Younis formed a deadly new ball pair with Wasim Akram.
3. Imran Khan
He is a Pakistani politician and former Pakistan cricket captain. He served as the 22nd Prime Minister of Pakistan from 2018 to 2022. He was the captain of the 1992 Pakistan World Cup-winning team. He is a cricketing idol for many legends, including Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis. He is the reason why Pakistan is known to be a land of fast bowlers.
4. Shoaib Akhtar
He is a Pakistani former cricketer and commentator. He is nicknamed ‘Rawalpindi Express’. He was one of the fastest bowlers in the world of cricket. He holds the record for bowling the quickest delivery in cricket history. He bowled a 161.3 Kph delivery to England’s opener in the 2003 ODI World Cup.
5. Kapil Dev
He is an Indian former cricketer. Kapil was the captain of the Indian cricket team that won the 1983 World Cup. He was an all-rounder who represented India in 131 tests and 225 ODIs. He is the first player in world cricket to take 200 ODI wickets. Kapil is the only player to have taken over 400 wickets and scored over 5,000 runs.
6. Chaminda Vaas
Vaas is a former international cricketer who represented Sri Lanka and he bowled right-arm fast. Vaas is the only bowler to take an eight-wicket haul in ODIs. He is also the youngest bowler to take 300 wickets in ODIs. Chaminda Vaas has one of the longest names among cricketers across the globe. Chaminda took 355 wickets from 111 test matches at an average of 29.58.
7. Javagal Srinath
Srinath is a former Indian cricketer who bowled Right arm Fast-medium and is currently an ICC match referee. He was the first Indian fast bowler to take over 300 wickets in ODIs. Srinath took 315 ODI wickets and represented India in four World Cups and he was the second bowler after Kapil Dev to take 200 test wickets.
8. Mohammad Asif
He is a Pakistani former cricketer who played for the Pakistan national cricket team between 2005 and 2010. He was rated highly for his unreadable swinging deliveries. His name was often involved in controversy in 2011, when Asif was found guilty of spot-fixing charges and he was banned by the ICC for five years.
9. Zaheer Khan
He is a former cricketer who represented India in cricket. He is known as one of the best Indian fast bowlers. Zaheer started his First-class career by playing for Baroda. He took 311 test wickets and 282 ODI wickets in his career. He excelled in reverse swinging with the old ball. He was one of the prominent members of 2011, World Cup-winning team.
10. Lasith Malinga
He is a former cricketer from Sri Lanka. He changed the dynamics of death bowling in limited overs by bowling his toe-crushing Yorkers. Malinga is the only bowler in the world to have two World Cup hat tricks and he also holds the record for most hat tricks in international cricket.
