10 Best Bowling Performances by Pakistanis in Test Cricket

[subshakerz]

This is just my own list. Priority is given to at least fivefers and matchwinning performances against strong batting lineups.

1. Sarfraz Nawaz 9/86 vs Australia in 1979 - An unbeatable spell of 7/1 resulting in an overseas victory against a decent Aussie lineup.

2. Imran Khan 8/60 vs India in 1983 - Imran at his peak, obliterating a strong Indian lineup of Gavaskar, Amarnath and Vengsarkar on a batting track through new ball and reverse swing.

3. Fazal Mahmoud 6/46 vs England in 1954 - Brought Pakistan's first landmark overseas victory defending a low target against a strong England side.

4. Imran Khan 6/63 against Australia in 1977 - The famous shirt-tearing Syndey spell that sparked a fast bowling revolution in Pakistan.

5. Abdul Qadir 6/16 vs West Indies in 1986 - Ripping through the strongest side of the era.

6. Shoaib Akthar 5/21 vs Australia in 2002 - Though it resulted in a loss for Pakistan, rarely has a spell dismissed so many high quality batsmen in such a short period.

7. Imran Khan 7/83 vs West Indies in 1988 - His last great spell, which resulted in the first loss for WI in the 80s at home.

8. Abdur Rehman 6/25 vs England in 2012 - A match and series-winning performance against the odds against the no.1 team at the time.

9. Wasim Akram 6/63 vs Australia in 1990 - Wasim's magical Syndey spell would be higher but couldn't secure a victory.

10. Saqlain Mushtaq 5/93 vs India in 1999 - Taking 10 wickets in a high pressure game and a famous overseas victory.

Special mention - Abdul Qadir 9/56 against England in 1988 - Best figures by a Pakistan but the quality of batting was not very high.

Any thoughts?

 

[TheNightWatchman]

Special place in my heart for Imran's 8/60. My parents told me bedtime stories about how they were in the ground watching prime Imran rolling over stumps in Karachi.

 

[TheNightWatchman]

Special place in my heart for Imran's 8/60. My parents told me bedtime stories about how they were in the ground watching prime Imran rolling over stumps in Karachi.

Infact, I'd go on to say it's one of the greatest spells of all time. Anyone who hasn't seen it please go on youtube and check it out. Lethal inswing fast bowling at it's best

 

[OMB]

IK 8/60 rates . India never had any chance to win that match due to huge gap in score but when sunny was batting and I was hoping for a draw, then IK just tore the Indian batting to shreds.

 

[Ab Fan]

8/60 at Karachi in 1982-83 series.

Would have been banned for one year by a more professional board in modern era as noted in 2018.

I would pick the 1999 Saqlain spell as the greatest by a Pakistani spinner and Shoaib's 2002 series performance as the greatest by a Pakistani fast bowler.

 

[MenInG]

1. Sarfraz Nawaz 9/86 vs Australia in 1979 - An unbeatable spell of 7/1 resulting in an overseas victory against a decent Aussie lineup.

An impossible situation it was when he did that.

My favourite.

 

[Mamoon]

From the ones I’ve watched live, I would pick Akhtar against Australia in Colombo in 2002.

On a flat Colombo pitch with scorching sun, he scythed through arguably the most powerful batting lineup in history of Test cricket in the space of 3-4 overs.

Steve Bucknor robbed him off a hat-trick as well. Steve Waugh was plumb LBW.

That spell presented Pakistan with a once in a lifetime opportunity of beating arguably the greatest team of all time with a top 6 of Imran Nazir, Taufeeq, Razzaq, Younis, Misbah and Faisal Iqbal.

Pakistan were on course thanks to the openers before the middle-order bottled it against Warne.

Younis in particular was the biggest culprit because he was well set on 50 and his dismissal triggered a collapse with Pakistan losing 5-6 wickets for 40 odd runs.

The Pakistani batting was mentally shot after the capitulation in the fourth innings and followed it up with what was the most humiliating Test defeat in Pakistan cricket history in Sharjah a week later.

 

[Rana]

Mohammad Asif took a 4fer against England in 2006 (Oval), with the famous wicket of Kevin Pietersen for a golden duck.

That was easily the best spell I had witnessed from a Pakistani bowler

 

[Rana]

A very underrated spell was the 5fer taken by Wahab Riaz against England at the Oval 2010 on debut

It pretty much set the tone for Pakistan to win a Test match against England with one of the weakest ever batting sides we have produced in our history. But tbf, Mohammad Yousuf did return to play this particular Test and he did score a very important 40 odd in Pak’s first innings. Still, the batting was a shambles that tour

 

[umarf76]

This is just my own list. Priority is given to at least fivefers and matchwinning performances against strong batting lineups.

1. Sarfraz Nawaz 9/86 vs Australia in 1979 - An unbeatable spell of 7/1 resulting in an overseas victory against a decent Aussie lineup.

2. Imran Khan 8/60 vs India in 1983 - Imran at his peak, obliterating a strong Indian lineup of Gavaskar, Amarnath and Vengsarkar on a batting track through new ball and reverse swing.

3. Fazal Mahmoud 6/46 vs England in 1954 - Brought Pakistan's first landmark overseas victory defending a low target against a strong England side.

4. Imran Khan 6/63 against Australia in 1977 - The famous shirt-tearing Syndey spell that sparked a fast bowling revolution in Pakistan.

5. Abdul Qadir 6/16 vs West Indies in 1986 - Ripping through the strongest side of the era.

6. Shoaib Akthar 5/21 vs Australia in 2002 - Though it resulted in a loss for Pakistan, rarely has a spell dismissed so many high quality batsmen in such a short period.

7. Imran Khan 7/83 vs West Indies in 1988 - His last great spell, which resulted in the first loss for WI in the 80s at home.

8. Abdur Rehman 6/25 vs England in 2012 - A match and series-winning performance against the odds against the no.1 team at the time.

9. Wasim Akram 6/63 vs Australia in 1990 - Wasim's magical Syndey spell would be higher but couldn't secure a victory.

10. Saqlain Mushtaq 5/93 vs India in 1999 - Taking 10 wickets in a high pressure game and a famous overseas victory.

Special mention - Abdul Qadir 9/56 against England in 1988 - Best figures by a Pakistan but the quality of batting was not very high.

Any thoughts?

Very good list. You clearly know your cricket!

My only comments:
1. Not sure Abdul Rahman belongs to this list.
2. Maybe Akram's 3 for in the 92 world cup final should make the list. He had a couple of special spells vs. Aus in 1998 and the 5/21 in Australia in 1984 Benson and Hedges (all 5 bowled) which deserve special mention.
3. M Asif 5 for against India in Karachi 2005 should make the list in my opinon.
4. M Amir 3 for in the 2017 Champions trophy maybe does not make the list but deserves a special mention.

 

[TheNightWatchman]

Mohammad Asif took a 4fer against England in 2006 (Oval), with the famous wicket of Kevin Pietersen for a golden duck.

That was easily the best spell I had witnessed from a Pakistani bowler

Asif made 2 of the best batsmen of their time, AB and KP look like absolute duds.

 

[Shafi]

Wow!!! Nothing from Waqar/Mushtaq/Ajmal?

 

[TheNightWatchman]

Wow!!! Nothing from Waqar/Mushtaq/Ajmal?

Mushtaq vs England at Manchester is a pretty iconic one.

 

[Markhor]

Can't argue with that top 6-7, an excellent list. Some iconic spells and some of them against very strong opposition.

 

[silent ischemia]

Saqlain in Chennai 1999 was amazing.
Akram in Antigua 2000 had a 10 wicket haul and almost single handedly won Pak the Test match and the series but for some fielding errors/poor umpiring

 

[subshakerz]

Very good list. You clearly know your cricket!

My only comments:
1. Not sure Abdul Rahman belongs to this list.
2. Maybe Akram's 3 for in the 92 world cup final should make the list. He had a couple of special spells vs. Aus in 1998 and the 5/21 in Australia in 1984 Benson and Hedges (all 5 bowled) which deserve special mention.
3. M Asif 5 for against India in Karachi 2005 should make the list in my opinon.
4. M Amir 3 for in the 2017 Champions trophy maybe does not make the list but deserves a special mention.

I didn't include ODIs.

Abdur Rahman's is an underrated bowling effort. England were a no.1 team chasing less than 150 and were knocked back for 72.

Mohd Asif never took a 5-fer versus India. That was a great spell but in my criteria at least a 5-fer or above should apply.

 

[subshakerz]

A very underrated spell was the 5fer taken by Wahab Riaz against England at the Oval 2010 on debut

It pretty much set the tone for Pakistan to win a Test match against England with one of the weakest ever batting sides we have produced in our history. But tbf, Mohammad Yousuf did return to play this particular Test and he did score a very important 40 odd in Pak’s first innings. Still, the batting was a shambles that tour

That was a decent spell but I dont think it qualifies as better than the others on the list.

 

[subshakerz]

Wow!!! Nothing from Waqar/Mushtaq/Ajmal?

Waqar has some great spells but nothing quite to the same level. And most of his notable spells had assistance from the other end. The closest would be his 5/22 against NZ which helped defend a tiny score, but the batting lineup then was horrible.

Ajmal's closest spell would be 7/55 against England which set up's Pakistan's clean sweep but Abdur Rahman's spell in the same series is superior.

Mushtaq had some great efforts against England, Australia and South Africa but these were mostly sealing victories after Pakistan already had the advantage.