Top 10 Best Pakistani Bowlers 2025 - Updated

Pakistan’s bowling history is filled with unforgettable moments and legendary names who have left a huge impact on the cricket field. It all began with Fazal Mahmood in the 1950s. He possessed the ability to swing the ball and made life difficult for many top batsmen of his time. Then came the iconic duo of Imran Khan and Sarfraz Nawaz in the 1980s. They brought sheer pace and reverse swing that changed the game for Pakistan.

The '90s saw the rise of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis. They were a duo that took fast bowling to a whole new level with their dangerous yorkers and late swing deliveries. Meanwhile, Shoaib Akhtar’s raw, threatening pace struck fear into the hearts of even the best players around the world.

There have been some quality spinners. Abdul Qadir brought leg-spin qualities, while Saqlain Mushtaq introduced innovations like the doosra, which added a new dimension to the art. Today, the legacy lives on through bowlers like Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah. Whether it's in Test matches, ODIs, or T20Is, Pakistan's bowlers have built a reputation for being both unpredictable and lethal. It can be said that bowling has always been Pakistan's unique identity.

Ranking Factors

No. of wickets: The number of wickets taken by a bowler is easily the most common factor in deciding the best Pakistani bowler. The bowler who has taken the most no. of wickets can be known as the most potent Pakistan bowler of all time.

Consistency: The consistency differentiates good bowlers from the best. Hence, the bowlers who will perform well for a longer period of time will be considered highly on this list.

Impact: Another important factor in deciding the best Pakistani bowler is the impact he has left on the game. Legendary bowlers like Imran Khan, Sarfraz Nawaz, Saqlain Mushtaq, and Wasim Akram have had a long-lasting impact, which makes them the best Pakistan bowlers of all time.

List of Top 10 Pakistani Bowlers of All Time

10. Abdul Qadir

Abdul Qadir, the leg-spin maestro, revived wrist-spin in the 1980s. He was one Pakistan bowler whose googlies and flippers bamboozled batsmen. Qadir claimed 368 wickets in 171 matches. Qadir’s 236 Test wickets at an average of 32.80 and 132 ODI scalps were also sensational. His quality and guile inspired future spinners, which is the reason why he is counted among the best Pakistani bowler of all time.

9. Abdul Razzaq

Abdul Razzaq, a quality all-rounder, scalped 389 wickets across 343 matches. His medium-pace bowling, often underestimated, delivered 269 ODI wickets and 100 Test scalps. Razzaq’s knack for breaking partnerships with clever variations was key in limited-overs cricket. His best figures were 6/35 in ODIs.

8. Umar Gul

Umar Gul, the yorker specialist, picked up 427 wickets in 237 matches. His 179 T20I wickets and 163 ODI scalps also show that he was a threat in limited overs cricket. Gul’s ability to swing the ball at pace, especially in death overs, made him a T20 pioneer. His 5/6 in T20Is remains iconic.

7. Shoaib Akhtar

The Rawalpindi Express, Shoaib Akhtar, picked up 444 wickets in 224 matches. His breathtaking pace, often exceeding 150 kph, yielded 178 Test and 247 ODI wickets. Akhtar’s aggression and bounce terrorized batsmen, with 12 Test five-wicket hauls. His 161.3 kph thunderbolt remains legendary, which is why he is one of the best Pakistani bowler of all time.

6. Saeed Ajmal

Saeed Ajmal, the off-spin wizard, took 447 wickets in 212 matches. His doosra baffled batsmen and helped him pick up 178 Test and 184 ODI wickets. Ajmal’s economy of 4.18 in ODIs and 10 five-wicket hauls in Tests perfectly explain to us his control. His crafty variations and deceptive flight made him one of the top spinners in Pakistan's history. During his prime, he was the best Pakistani bowler as he had the ability to bowl well in tough situations.

5. Saqlain Mushtaq

Saqlain Mushtaq, the doosra’s inventor, claimed 496 wickets in 218 matches. He has 208 Test and 288 ODI wickets. Saqlain’s 69 wickets in the ODIs played in the year 1997 set a record. Mushtaq's subtle variations and guile dismantled lineups, with six ODI five-wicket hauls. He was an exceptional bowler in the middle overs and probably the best Pakistani bowler among the spinners.

4. Shahid Afridi

Shahid Afridi, the flamboyant all-rounder, picked up 541 wickets in 524 matches. His leg-spin helped him scalp 395 ODI wickets, with a best of 7/12. Afridi’s quick sliders and googlies disrupted batting orders and were well complemented by 98 T20I scalps. He stood up in big moments, which made him a fan favorite all across the globe. With his skilful leg-spin bowling, he makes it to the best Pakistan bowlers list.

3. Imran Khan

Imran Khan, Pakistan’s legendary captain, took 544 wickets in 263 matches. His 362 Test wickets and 182 ODI scalps, including 24 five-wicket hauls, perfectly highlight the impact that he had with his bowling. Khan’s leadership, combined with his lethal yorkers and reverse-swing, especially in the 1980s, inspired a generation that helped the upcoming generation of Pakistan fast bowlers. His 1992 World Cup triumph cements his status as an all-time great.

2. Waqar Younis

Waqar Younis, the toe-crushing yorker king, claimed 789 wickets in 349 matches. He has 373 Test wickets and 416 ODI scalps, with 13 ODI five-wicket hauls. Waqar’s late swing and raw pace, alongside Wasim Akram, formed the “Two Ws,” and terrorized batsmen. Both of them were absolutely lethal with their skills on subcontinent wickets, which assisted reverse-swing. His 7/36 in ODIs remains a benchmark. Waqar is still the best Pakistani bowler of all time among the right-arm pacers.

1. Wasim Akram

If Pakistan fast bowlers are the best in the world, Wasim Akram one of those reasons. The Sultan of Swing tops the list with 916 wickets in 460 matches. His 414 Test and 502 ODI wickets, including 31 five-wicket hauls, make him Pakistan best bowler in the history of the game. Akram’s reverse swing and unplayable yorkers made him a menace to deal with for the batters.

Akram had the ability to trouble the batters at any stage of the game, irrespective of the conditions, which makes him the best Pakistani bowler of all time. Pakistani left arm fast bowlers have created a big name for them in world cricket and Akram was the biggest reasons for that.