Who is the most intelligent limited overs fast bowler in Pakistan?

[TalentSpotterPk]

It's no longer 2010. It is 2025. 15 years.

Population unofficially 30 Crore.

Yet who is the most smart, intelligent, shrewd limited-overs Pace Bowler in Pakistan ?

Undoubtedly Mohammad Amir.

Pace, fast-medium with an ability to bowl 140 kph at will.

The best reader when it comes to reading the mind of a batsman. Intelligent bowler. Skilled bowler.

What an over it was from the old horse today. Mighty talented, skilled, and Pakistan's brightest batting prospect, Saim Ayub looked amateur and a mere kid against Amir today. Twice outfoxed by back of a length inswing deliveries. The way Amir changes his length with each delivery is very very deceptive.

Babar Azam :
Bowled him an inswinger that almost knocked his leg stump, but then with the penultimate ball, Amir lured Babar with a seam-up outswing delivery that happened to be an unconventional slow ball. Babar fancied a cover drive, but the ball this time moved away and was 10 kph slower. That was the end for Babar Azam, caught at covers and outsmarted by Amir.

Amir's bowling IQ has to be the best in the populous country of Pakistan.

Note: Yes, he bowled an unforgettable over against the USA in the T20 World Cup. It was a bad over. It was nerves and poor match strength (than) required fitness whereas Amir labored and struggled with stamina, leading to a poor over. But even before that, it was He who brought us back into the match.

The only thing to gauge is whether his stamina, fitness and strength has improved? If Yes, then this will be a very good PSL for him, and he will be back in the news once again.

Sick of mental midgit pacers who run in brainlessly and are one-trick ponies. Counting time since 2016 Asia Cup, where Amir bowled a magical express-pace, high quality spell against India can't think of more than 3-5 quality spells, except by Shaheen & Naseem with a 3:2 those pre-injury years of 2021-2022. Otherwise, for a rich country pace bowling has been completely barren to be honest.

And we are talking about a country with an official population of 241.49 million people back in 2023, with cricket being its top sport and with a crazy cricket-following nation.

 

[Rana]

There is no doubt Amir is still the best pacer+ most thinking pacer in white ball cricket throughout Pakistan,

But to use Babar as a case study isn’t really impressive.

Babar is a free wicket these days. You have to be smart at either keeping him in at the crease to put pressure on his side, or just watch him wilt under pressure himself.

Amir will have greater challenges when he bowls to guys like Fakhar, Munro, Short, Warner, Siefert in this tournament.

 

[Sachin fan]

He is an extremely clever bowler. However he doesn't have stamina for ODI cricket, so can only bowl 4 overs in T20s.

 

[Bhaijaan]

Amir bhai, a class act in LOIs brother

 

[Devadwal]

Aamir bottled when it was matter - Super over against USA but I agree with OP. Aamir has more memorable spell than any other Pakistan bowler's after his comeback.

Pakistan hasn't treated him well Post 2018 Asia Cup.

 

[jeeteshssaxena]

Amazing bowler and very hard to hit.

I think there is a huge parallel between a bowlers economy and his intelligence.

The most intelligent bowlers I have seen are McGrath, Bumrah, Pollock, Asif, Amir etc.

All of them had low economy rates.

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

Amazing bowler and very hard to hit.

I think there is a huge parallel between a bowlers economy and his intelligence.

The most intelligent bowlers I have seen are McGrath, Bumrah, Pollock, Asif, Amir etc.

All of them had low economy rates.

Especially in this age where batsman dominate and it's hard to anticipate.

Bumrah for me is a Computer. I would say a nightmare to face for even the best of the best when In full flow. Very intelligent & skilled.

 

[Sachin fan]

Aamir bottled when it was matter - Super over against USA but I agree with OP. Aamir has more memorable spell than any other Pakistan bowler's after his comeback.

Pakistan hasn't treated him well Post 2018 Asia Cup.

He was the one who retired in a huff and refused to play for his country.

 

[Sachin fan]

Amir bhai, a class act in LOIs brother

Only T20s, when was the last time he bowled in an ODI? In 2019 I believe.

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

There is no doubt Amir is still the best pacer+ most thinking pacer in white ball cricket throughout Pakistan,

But to use Babar as a case study isn’t really impressive.

Babar is a free wicket these days. You have to be smart at either keeping him in at the crease to put pressure on his side, or just watch him wilt under pressure himself.

Amir will have greater challenges when he bowls to guys like Fakhar, Munro, Short, Warner, Siefert in this tournament.

Rana brother it's PSL not International Cricket while we are discussing Babar Azam. Babar is not out of form. It's just that His Strike Rate ability is below par for 2025 International Cricket standards not the technique (overall). This makes him a less feared opponent in Modern day.

Also last 7-8 years have proved that Babar Azam fails in 95 % of big matches no matter what the format is. This is a Bad Stat. Don't know if he will turn it around or not but the Probability looks low given the sample size.


The Context of bringing Babar into this discussion was with regards to Amir outfoxing, outsmarting him. Pak top bowlers (by our standards) in last 10 years have admitted it that Babar is the most difficult batsman to bowl at.

 

[Bhaijaan]

Only T20s, when was the last time he bowled in an ODI? In 2019 I believe.

Brother he old now to bowl in 50 overs. Physically he’s not gifted like Shami bhai.