What do Aristotle, Socrates, René Descartes, Swami Vivekananda, Bertrand Russell, Immanuel Kant, Confucius, Dostoevsky, Jean-Jacques Rosseau, and Ravichandran Ashwin have in common?
These are the names of some of the greatest thinkers and philosophers of all time.
They didn’t just exist! They thought outside the box. Questioned the status quo. Changed the world.
And yes, you may have noticed that I subtly slipped in Ravichandran Ashwin’s name in there. Why, you may ask?
Because Ravichandran Ashwin is more than your average cricketer. He is different. He is also a thinker and has transformed into one of the most influential cricketers of this generation.
As Ashwin gets closer to his monumental 500th wicket, we look at 11 Moments which illustrates how Ravichandran Ashwin has changed the way YOU think about cricket.
Key Takeaways
Ashwin has taken 496 wickets at a bowling average of 23.79 and 51.4 strike rate. This includes 24 4-fers, 34 5-fers, and 8 10-wicket hauls in a match.
He has scored 3222 Test runs at 26.66 batting average. This includes 5 Test hundreds and 14 fifties.
His best figures are 7/59 (innings), 13/140 (match), and the highest score of 124.
Across formats, Ravichandran Ashwin has taken 724 international wickets and scored more than 4000 runs.
He is currently ranked at #2 for the Best All-Rounder in Men’s Test Cricket.
1. Desensitizing the Non-Strikers Run-Out
Let’s start with the elephant in the room—The non-strikers run-out or ‘Mankad’ as it was known in the pre-Ashwin era.
The most infamous moment was Ashwin vs Buttler. Watch the video below.
Ashwin’s involvement about the non-strikers run-out opened a conversation in cricket that was long overdue.
What do the laws of cricket say? Why does ‘Spirit of Cricket’ get selectively applied in this case? What can the bowlers do to gain advantage just like the batters when backing up?
There is still some way to go to desensitize the non-strikers run-out completely, but the bowlers are at least warning the batters more often (also a little bit of tension during the game is always fun).
2. Scoring Hundreds and Finishing Tense Chases in Test Cricket
These are significant scores. Ashwin has scored plenty of hundreds against the West Indies (both home & away) and also has had key contributions in South Africa, Australia, England, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. That is serious pedigree.
“I call him a scientist. He keeps discovering new things about himself. Be it bowling or batting. That is very nice for a cricketer. And that is why – the talent he has, he has maximized it over the years.”
My Favorite Ashwin Innings
My favorite Ashwin batting innings was the chase in the 2nd Test against Bangladesh in 2022. Chasing a target of 145, India had collapsed to 74/7 with Mehidy Hasan Miraz bamboozling the Indian batting.
Then came in the duo of Shreyas Iyer & Ravichandran Ashwin, constructing a counterattacking rearguard effort. By the end of it, Ashwin had scored the highest score in a fourth innings chase by a batter at #9 or below (42*) and stitched together the highest 8th wicket partnership in a successful fourth innings chase (71*) with Iyer.
3. Opening the Bowling in T20 Cricket Way Back in 2010
It was the 2010 IPL that brought Ashwin into the national contention.
Playing under captain MS Dhoni, Ashwin began opening the bowling and keeping things tight in the Powerplays.
Remember in those days, spinners opening the bowling was still a rare instance. Even Sunil Narine would debut a year later.
Ashwin ended up with the best economy (6.10) in the competition (for anyone bowling more than 6 overs in the whole IPL), CSK won the IPL for the first time, which started what would become a famed legacy, the Dhoni-Ashwin partnership began, and Ashwin (and India) was on his way to a glorious golden eighteen months.
4. Bowling that Final Ball with the Iconic Stop in the 2013 Champions Trophy Final
The golden age of Indian cricket in recent memory between 2007-2013 from the 2007 T20 World Cup to the 2013 Champions Trophy Final.
Oh yeah and there was the 2011 World Cup Final as well.
A six to win, four to tie. Wet conditions. Ashwin does a mini-pause, Tredwell starts to move, Ashwin spins the ball prodigiously.
A magnificent spell of 4-0-15-2 to drive India home in a famous victory.
5. Saving the Test at Sydney and Putting His Body on the Line
Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21. We are never forgetting this, are we?
Third Test Day 5. Series in the balance. Rahane departs early.
Rishabh Pant & Cheteshwar Pujara are full flow. Pant departs on 97, Hazlewood bowls a jaffa to Pujara, Vihari suffers a hamstring injury.
Surely Australia is cruising to victory here? Think again.
Ashwin & Vihari come together to put together one of the greatest rearguard actions in recent Test history.
Ashwin had already been suffering back pains. Now the fast bowlers were bowling bouncers and targeted his rib cage. He suffered but stayed in the game. By the end of the day, he was pulling short balls for four.
6. Inventing New Deliveries and Experimenting with Bowling Action
“Methods, madness, and courage” are characteristics that drive Ashwin. In his own words,
“There is a method to my madness. People ask, ‘What is he doing? Why is he trying so many different things. It is a matter of perception.”
Method in the Madness
One of the things that sets him apart is the ability to take risks and always try out something new.
He began his career as an off-spinner and when T20 cricket demanded, he opened the bowling.
As leg spinners gained prominence in the 2010s and Ashwin was dropped from the limited overs side in 2017, he knew he had to do something different.
He changed his action, experimented with delivery strides, added the carrom ball in his arsenal of weapons, and even developed the leg spinner.
Ashwin has received a new lease of life with the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL. It jumpstarted his comeback into the Indian T20I side, but more than that, it is the manner in which has gone about his cricket at RR which is heartening to see.
This provided specialist finishers, Riyan Parag and Shimron Hetmyer, the extra few balls to finish off the innings.
Ravichandran Ashwin has become such a cult figure for out-of-the-box tactics that after Rohit Sharma retired himself during the double Super Over against Afghanistan, coach Rahul Dravid said, “Rohit retiring himself out was Ashwin-level thinking.”
9. Presence of Mind in the T20 World Cup Match Against Pakistan
Now let’s come to one of the most iconic moments in recent memory.
An India vs Pakistan match to cherish. In the 19th over, Virat Kohli played the shot heard around the world against Haris Rauf.
India were getting closer, but Hardik Pandya departed. A few balls later, Virat Kohli was on the non-strikers end.
Then came time for the finisher from the Nidahas trophy final, Dinesh Karthik. His comeback story and career revamp as a finisher had led to this one moment. But he was stumped when Nawaz bowled a wide one near outside his leg.
The Iconic Moment
Next ball, Ravichandran Ashwin is in. Nawaz attempts a similar delivery.
What does Ashwin do? HE LEAVES IT. I repeat, he leaves it! The audacity, brilliant! Wide ball called. Scores leveled.
Next ball, he just lifts the ball straight past the bowler for a four.
Calm, collected, champion. That is Ravi Ashwin for you.
The world is changing every day due to the internet and social media.
Cricket is also changing and players have to ensure they are planning for the future during their careers. We can already see the likes of Stuart Broad and Dinesh Karthik commentating before retirement. Others have put their hats into the coaching baskets.
Ashwin in his usual self, has done something slightly differently. He has started a YouTube channel! And not just any channel – the thoughtful interviews and Kutti stories have already garnered him 1.34 Million YouTube subscribers!
What is neat about this experience is the insights we are gaining from Ashwin about what happens inside the dressing room. The media is known for speculation and controversies, but Ashwin brings a more human, deeper side to the Indian cricket team. I hope more cricketers follow this path in the future.
Here is an interview series with Harsha Bhogle on India’s stories during ODI World Cups.
11. Never Backing Down
One characteristic I admire about Ravichandran Ashwin is his honesty and the ability to speak his mind regardless of the pressure.
We have already seen from a strategic point of view that he never backs down and keeps improving his skills.
Off the field as well, he doubles down on this personality trait. We can see from the press conference below (where he questions why journalists have a pre-determined view about Indian pitches) or the memorable sledge against Tim Paine that Ashwin will always be up for a fight.
12. From Engineering to Cricket
Not many athletes have dual careers at the beginning of their careers. Ashwin graduated with a BTech degree.
“My dad used to wake me up at 5:30…My mom wanted me to be an engineer. And I did it, because I actually struggled through it. I actually slogged my entire sweat out to actually do engineering and cricket. It used to be extremely hard. And extremely hard is an understatement.”
Along with family pressure, he also suffered a pelvis injury, which kept him out of cricket for a year in his peak high school years.
As a society, we judge and admire individuals after success has been achieved, but it is often the stories behind the scenes that helps us understand the true character of the individual.
13. Playing Cricket All Day Every Day
And finally, where there is cricket, there is Ashwin.
In modern-day cricket, there is barely any space for free time. There is always a World Cup, international cricket, or T20 leagues happening around the world.
But whenever Ashwin finds time, you can see him playing in the TNPL and other local matches.
Here is a hilarious clip of Ashwin reviewing a ball TWICE in the small ball because he was not satisfied with the discussion.
Classic Ashwin!
Final Thoughts – How Did Ravichandran Ashwin Change the Game of Cricket
Ravichandran Ashwin pioneered the retired out, made non-strikers run-out cool again, finished clutch matches in Test cricket, opened the batting in T20 cricket, put the body on the line to fight for his country, bowled off spin, leg spin, carrom ball, won World Cup matches on his own, started a YouTube channel, and even took two reviews on the same ball!
Ravichandran Ashwin is not just a cricketer. He transcends human nature. A true genius, thinker, philosopher, and scientist.
I’m glad to have watched Ravichandran Ashwin’s career unfold.
If this is not a story we should all appreciate, I don’t know what is.
Related Content on Some of Cricket’s Most Wonderful Stories
No Results Found
The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.
No Results Found
The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.
Today we will discuss the salary of a Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) player in the West Indies.
With the great Bangladesh generation of the Bangladesh comprising of Shakib, Tamim, Mahmudullah, Liton, and more—the BPL has generated lots of hype over the years.
However, there’s one question on every cricket fan’s mind: just how much do these players make?
BPL Salary – By the Numbers
The average salary range of a Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) player is $20,472-$52,969. The estimated maximum salary cap for the entire BPL ranges from $2.6 million-$6.6 Million for about 127 players, divided among 7 teams.
The average salary for a domestic Bangladesh Premier League player is about $17,000-$37,000 (estimated range of $ 1.2 million-$2.6 million for a total of 71 domestic players). The average salary for an overseas BPL cricketer is about $25,000-$71,000 (estimated range of $1.4 million-$4 million for 56 signed overseas players).
Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Draft – How Much Was Each Local Draft Pick?
Category
Salary Amounts – $USD (BDT)
Category A
$72,897 (BDT 80 Lakh)
Category B
$45,561 (BDT 50 Lakh)
Category C
$27,337 (BDT 30 Lakh)
Category D
$18,224 (BDT 20 Lakh)
Category E
$13,668 (BDT 15 Lakh)
Category F
$9,112 (BDT 10 Lakh)
Category G
$4,556 (BDT 5 Lakh)
Note: We use the conversion, $1 US Dollar = 109.77 Bangladeshi Taka (BDT) as of 1/18/2024.
Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Overseas Signings
Category
Salary Amounts – $USD
CategoryA
$80,000
CategoryB
$60,000
CategoryC
$40,000
CategoryD
$30,000
CategoryE
$20,000
*The draft salary amounts include tax
BPL Draft Picks – Salary of Bangladesh Premier League Player
Note: We have provided ranges because signings (both local & overseas) and retention/transfer amounts are not disclosed.
However, the minimum and maximum for player signings will align with the category table above. Hence, a local player signing can range from $4,556-$72,897 (5-80 Lakh BDT) and an overseas player signing can range from $20,000-$80,000.
The number of players in the BPL is also highly variable due to the clashes with the BBL, SA20, and ILT20 (so there are lots of replacements/players that will only play for a few games).
Overseas Signings: Johnson Charles, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Rizwan, Moeen Ali, Rakheem Cornwall, Sunil Narine, Rashid Khan, Andre Russell, Matthew Forde, Naseem Shah, Noor Ahmad, Zaman Khan
Local Signed/Retained Players: Liton Das, Towhid Hridoy, Mustafizur Rahman, Tanvir Islam
Overseas Signings: Dushan Hemantha, Samit Patel, Richard Ngarava, George Scrimshaw
Local Signings/Retentions: Najmul Hossain Shanto, Zakir Hasan, Mashrafe Mortaza, Tanzim Hasan Sakib
Sylhet Strikers Draft Salaries – Overseas Players
Player
Category
Salary
Ryan Burl
B
$60,000
Harry Tector
E
$20,000
Ben Cutting
D
$30,000
Sylhet Strikers Draft Salaries – Local Players
Player
Category
Salary
Mohammad Mithun
C
$27,337 (BDT 30 Lakh)
Yasir Ali
C
$27,337 (BDT 30 Lakh)
Ariful Haque
D
$18,224 (BDT 20 Lakh)
Nayeem Hasan
C
$27,337 (BDT 30 Lakh)
Rejaur Rahman Raja
D
$18,224 (BDT 20 Lakh)
Shafiqul Islam
D
$18,224 (BDT 20 Lakh)
Jawad Mohammad Royen
E
$13,668 (BDT 15 Lakh)
Final Thoughts
The theory of evolution by Charles Darwin revolves around the idea of ‘Survival of the Fittest.’
A decade ago, the Bangladesh Premier League was a decent league that attracted some talent from around the world.
Fast forward to 2024 with ILT20 & SA20 pairing with the IPL and paying their players loads of money, the BPL is not thriving. The mismanagement of the league, lack of DRS, discipline issues, and lack of availability does not help either.
Will the BPL survive? What do you think?
Related Cricket Content
Cricket and Finances Articles
For other content on Finances in Cricket, do read:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) – Salary of Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) player
What is the average salary for a Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) player in Bangladesh?
The average salary range of a Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) player is $20,472-$52,969. The estimated maximum salary cap for the entire BPL ranges from $2.6 million-$6.6 Million for about 127 players, divided among 7 teams.
Is Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) the richest cricket league in the world?
No, the BPL is the 9th richest league in the world by player salaries (or the third poorest league) with the IPL still standing at #1.
Who was the most expensive player in the BPL 2024 draft?
Mushfiqur Rahim was the most expensive player in the 2024 Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) draft. He was the only category A player priced at 80 Lakh BDT ($72,897).
Today we will discuss the salary of International League T20 (ILT20) player in the UAE.
The league has generated enormous hype due to the salary they pay their players. Will this threaten to collapse the international cricket calendar.
How much do these players make? Can the ILT20 compete with the IPL?
ILT20 Salary – By the Numbers
The average salary of an International League T20 (ILT20) player is $138,888 (maximum 18 players in the squad with a maximum purse of $2.5 million). Hence, the maximum salary cap for the entire ILT20 was $15 million for a maximum of 108 players, divided among 6 teams.
Each team has allocated a purse ranging from $1.5 million (minimum wage bill) up to $2.5 million (maximum wage bill) to acquire their 18 players (maximum 12 overseas players). The maximum wage bill includes a $500,000 loyalty or signing-on bonus as well as a $500,000 bid purse per team that can be distributed among the players on top of their wage slots.
The maximum an ILT20 player can earn is up to $450,000 ($340,000 is the maximum wage and another $110,000 can come from the signing on bonus).
Zee Entertainment Enterprises signed a ten-year $100-$120 million deal with the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) for the media broadcasting rights.
The International League T20 (ILT20) – How Much Was Each Wage Slot?
The second season of the ILT20 will run from 19 January-17 February 2024 in the UAE. This time around, these matches have been granted official List A status. In any case, here are the wage slots for the 18-men squad in the ILT20 league.
Wage Slots
Salary Amounts (Minimum)
Slot 1
$340,000
Slot 2
$260,000
Slot 3
$220,000
Slots 4-5
$140,000
Slot 6
$100,000
Slots 7-8
$60,000
Slots 9-10
$40,000
Slots 11-12
$20,000
Slots 13-18
$10,000
ILT20 Retained Players and Squads – Salary of International League T20 Player
Another reason the ILT20 has garnered interest is because of its overseas player limit. The ILT20 has instilled a limit of nine overseas players in the XI. This is much more extreme than the 4-5 we see in the other teams.
This is how the teams stack up:
1. Abu Dhabi Knight Riders
Retained Players: Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Joe Clarke, Charith Asalanka, Sabir Ali, Ali Khan, Matiullah Khan, Marchant de Lange
Squad: Laurie Evans, Sam Hain, Michael Pepper, Alishan Sharafu, Ravi Bopara, Brandon McMullen, David Willey, Adhitya Shetty, Josh Little, Sabir Ali, Matiullah Khan, Jake Lintott
2. Desert Vipers
Retained Players: Wanindu Hasaranga, Alex Hales, Tom Curran, Colin Munro, Sherfane Rutherford, Luke Wood, Matheesha Pathirana, Rohan Mustafa, Sheldon Cottrell, Dinesh Chandimal, Gus Atkinson* (withdrawn), Ali Naseer
Squad: Azam Khan, Adam Hose, Michael Jones, Bas de Leede, Shadab Khan, Aryan Lakra, Karthik Meiyappan, Tymal Mills, Shaheen Shah Afridi
3. Dubai Capitals
Retained Players: Joe Root, Sikandar Raza, Rovman Powell, Dushmantha Chameera, Raja Akifullah Khan
Squad: Vritya Aravind, Sam Billings, Rahul Chopra, Max Holden, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sadeera Samarawickrama, David Warner, Mohammad Mohsin, Dasun Shanaka, Roelof van der Merwe, Akif Raja, Nuwan Thurshara, Andrew Tye, Mark Wood, Haider Ali
4. Gulf Giants
Retained Players: Shimron Hetmyer, Chris Jordan, James Vince, Jamie Overton, Chris Lynn, Aayan Khan, Sanchit Sharma, Richard Gleeson, Carlos Brathwaite, Rehan Ahmed, Gerhard Erasmus
Squad: Jordan Cox, Jamie Smith, Usman Khan, Aayan Afzal Khan, Dominic Drakes, Karim Janat, Mujeeb Ur Rahman*, Saurabh Netravalkar, Sanchit Sharma, Zuhaib Zubair
*Mujeeb is banned from ILT20 for a season or two due to a breach in contract
5. MI Emirates
Retained Players: Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo, Nicholas Pooran, Muhammad Waseem, Daniel Mousley, Trent Boult, Zahoor Khan, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Jordan Thompson, Will Smeed, McKenny Clarke, Andre Fletcher
Retained Players: Chris Woakes, Junaid Siddique, Mark Deyal, Joe Denly, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Muhammad Jawadullah
Squad: Basil Hameed, Johnson Charles, Martin Guptill, Kusal Mendis, Sean Williams, James Fuller, Lewis Gregory, Nilansh Keswani, Daniel Sams, Dilshan Madushanka, Qais Ahmad, Chris Sole, Mahesh Theekshana, Mark Watt
Cricket is at a breaking point. We have said this time and time again.
We are now at an extremely crucial juncture in cricket’s history. Not only is international cricket competing with franchise leagues for a spot in the calendar, the T20 leagues themselves are at odds with each other.
The SA20, ILT20, BBL, BPL, and New Zealand’s Super Smash are all competing for top talent between December and February, after which the PSL and IPL take over. Which leagues will survive?
We do not know, but international cricket may not. Test cricket (outside of the Big 3), definitely, will not.
Related Cricket Content
Cricket and Finances Articles
For other content on Finances in Cricket, do read:
Today we will discuss the salary of a SA20 player in South Africa.
After years of failing to develop a T20 league, it looks like South Africa finally have a competition that will survive (with the help of the IPL franchises, of course).
The average salary of a South Africa T20 League (SA20) player is $110,000 (maximum 19 players in the squad with a maximum purse of 39.1 million South African Rands or $2.09 Million USD). The salary cap in the 2024 SA20 season increased from R. 34 million to R. 39.1 million.
The maximum salary cap for the entire SA20 was $12.55 Million, for a maximum of 114 players, divided among 6 teams.
The South Africa T20 League (SA20) – What is the Average SA20 Salary?
*Note: The amounts shown below are average auction prices. Since pre-auction signing salaries are undisclosed, some of those players are probably earning much higher amounts since the average salary of a SA20 player is $110,000.
Also, the wildcard picks have a minimum salary of R. 175,000, but this can be outside the salary purse.
SA20 Team
Average Auction Salary Amounts
Durban Super Giants
$86,550
Joburg Super Kings
$98,640
MI Cape Town
$63,270
Paarl Royals
$71,620
Pretoria Capitals
$95,200
Sunrisers Eastern Cape
$106,030
We use the conversion, $1 USD = 18.69 South African Rand (as of 1/7/2024)
SA20 Auction Picks – Salary of South Africa League T20
Now we summarize the salaries for each team based on both the 2023 SA20 Auction as well as the 2024 mini-auction.
2024 is the year where international cricket calendar might finally crash.
The inaugural seasons of SA20, ILT20, and MLC were all a huge season. Now, there is virtually no open space in the international calendar.
The SA20, with its backing from the IPL franchises, will ensure South African cricketers make a decent living, but it may come at the expense of international cricket.
Is it worth it? Can the leagues and international cricket co-exist? What is the solution?
So many questions. What do you say? Comment Below! For now, we can go and enjoy good cricket in the SA20.
Related Cricket Content
Cricket and Finances Articles
For other content on Finances in Cricket, do read:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) – Salary of South Africa T20 League (SA20) player
What is the average salary for a South Africa T20 League (SA20) player in South Africa?
The average salary for a SA20 player is about $110,000. Teams had a salary purse of 39.1 Million Rands or $2.09 Million for a maximum of 19 players in their squads.
Is the South Africa T20 League (SAT20) the richest cricket league in the world?
No, the Indian Premier League (IPL) is the richest cricket league in the world. The SA20 (South African T20 League) is the 3rd richest league by average player salaries.
Who was the most expensive player in the 2024 SA20 Competition?
Tristan Stubbs (R. 9,200,000 or $492,000) is the most expensive player in the SA20 competition.
Today we will discuss the salary of a Pakistan Super League (PSL) player in Pakistan.
The PSL has finally become profitable over the last couple of years, and big names like Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Haris Rauf make this a T20 competition to behold.
However, there’s one question on every cricket fan’s mind: just how much do these players make?
PSL Salary – By the Numbers
The average salary of a Pakistan Super League (PSL) player is $66,667 or about 1.89 Crore PKR (maximum 18 players in the squad with a salary cap of $1.2 million or 33.6 Crore PKR). Hence, the maximum amount spent in the entire PSL draft was $7.2 million for a maximum of 108 players, divided among 6 teams.
The average salary for a domestic Pakistan Super League player is $61,824 or 1.72 Crore PKR ($4.575 million spent for a total of 74 domestic players). The average salary for an overseas PSL cricketer is $77,206 or 2.16 Crore PKR ($2.625 million spent for 34 signed overseas players).
The Pakistan Super League (PSL) – How Much Was Each Draft Pick?
Draft Picks
Average Salary Amounts
Platinum
$150,000 (4,19,58,000 PKR)
Diamond
$72,500 (2,02,79,700 PKR)
Gold
$45,000 (1,25,87,400 PKR)
Silver
$20,000 (55,94,400 PKR)
Emerging
$7,500 (20,97,900 PKR)
Supplementary
$50,000 (1,39,86,000 PKR)
Conversion Rate: As of 12/18/2023, $1 United States Dollar (USD) = 279.72 Pakistan Rupee (PKR)
PSL 2024 Draft Picks – Salary of Pakistan Super League Player
According to The Cricketer in PSL (2021), here were the price ranges for each of the different categories. In the last three years, there has not been any changes to this structure. In addition, a range has been provided for each category. However, the exact amounts for a particular player are unknown.
Shadab Khan, Naseem Shah, Jordan Cox (Islamabad United), Kieron Pollard, Daniel Sams, Mohammad Nawaz (Karachi Kings), Shaheen Shah Afridi, Fakhar Zaman, Rassie van der Dussen (Lahore Qalandars), Mohammad Rizwan, Iftikhar Ahmed, David Willey (Multan Sultans), Babar Azam, Rovman Powell, Noor Ahmad (Peshawar Zalmi), Rilee Rossouw, Sherfane Rutherford, Mohammad Amir (Quetta Gladiators)
Azam Khan, Imad Wasim, Tymal Mills (Islamabad United), Tim Seifert, James Vince, Hasan Ali (Karachi Kings), Haris Rauf, David Wiese, Sahibzada Farhan (Lahore Qalandars), Khushdil Shah, Usama Mir, Dawid Malan (Multan Sultans), Saim Ayub, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Asif Ali (Peshawar Zalmi), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Jason Roy, Wanindu Hasaranga (Quetta Gladiators)
Rumman Raees, Matthew Forde, Salman Ali Agha, Qasim Akram, Shahab Khan (Islamabad United), Mir Hamza, Muhammad Akhlaq, M Amir Khan, Anwar Ali, Arafat Minhas (Karachi Kings), Mirza Tahir Baig, Rashid Khan, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Dan Lawrence, Ahsan Bhatti (Lahore Qalandars), Ihsanullah, Tayyab Tahir, Shahnawaz Dahani, Mohammad Ali, Usman Khan (Multan Sultans), Khurram Shahzad, Salman Irshad, Arif Yaqoob, Umair Afridi, Daniel Mousley (Peshawar Zalmi), Will Smeed, Saud Shakeel, Sajjad Ali Jnr, Usman Qadir, Omair Bin Yousaf (Quetta Gladiators)
5. Emerging Round Draft Pick ($7,500/21 Lakh PKR)
Price: $7,500 (20,97,900 PKR)
Hunain Shah, Ubaid Shah (Islamabad United), Sirajuddin, M Irfan Khan (Karachi Kings), Jahandad Khan, Syed Faridoun (Lahore Qalands), Faisal Akram, Yasir Khan (Multan Sultans), Haseebullah Khan, Mohammad Zeeshan (Peshawar Zalmi), Adil Naz, Khawaja Nafay (Quetta Gladiators)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) – Salary of Pakistan Super League (PSL) player
What is the average salary for a Pakistan Super League (PSL) player in Pakistan?
The average salary of a Pakistan Super League (PSL) player is $66,667. Each PSL team has a purse of $1.2 million for 18 total players.
Is Pakistan Super League (PSL) the richest cricket league in the world?
No, the Indian Premier League (IPL) is the richest cricket league in the world. The PSL is the sixth richest cricket league in the world (based on average player salary).
Who was the most expensive player in the PSL 2024 draft?
The most expensive players in the PSL 2024 draft were as follows: Shadab Khan, Naseem Shah, Jordan Cox (Islamabad United), Kieron Pollard, Daniel Sams, Mohammad Nawaz (Karachi Kings), Shaheen Shah Afridi, Fakhar Zaman, Rassie van der Dussen (Lahore Qalandars), Mohammad Rizwan, Iftikhar Ahmed, David Willey (Multan Sultans), Babar Azam, Rovman Powell, Noor Ahmad (Peshawar Zalmi), Rilee Rossouw, Sherfane Rutherford, Mohammad Amir (Quetta Gladiators). They all were the Platinum Draft Pick for their respective teams.
There has never been a shortage of South African fast bowlers.
While the era or Dale Steyn & Morne Morkel has ended, the era of Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, and Gerald Coetzee is beginning to rise.
Today we explore who the greatest South African fast bowler of all-time was, including the era of 1970-1992, the lost generation due to South Africa’s global isolation.
By the Numbers: Which South African Fast Bowlers Have Taken the Most Wickets Across Formats?
Across formats, fast bowlers Shaun Pollock (829), Dale Steyn (699), Makhaya Ntini (662), Allan Donald (602), Jacques Kallis (577), Morne Morkel (544), and Kagiso Rabada (495) took the most wickets for South Africa.
List of the Most Wickets by South African Fast Bowlers Across Formats
Player
Wickets
Shaun Pollock
829
Dale Steyn
699
Makhaya Ntini
662
Allan Donald
602
Jacques Kallis
577
Morne Morkel
544
Kagiso Rabada
495
Lance Klusener
272
Vernon Philander
269
Andre Nel
231
Lungi Ngidi
199
Fanie de Villiers
180
Wayne Parnell
173
Hansie Cronje
157
Andile Phehlukwayo
146
Brian McMillian
145
Anrich Nortje
144
Andrew Hall
143
Charles Langeveldt
133
Craig Matthews
131
Trevor Goddard
123
Lonwabo Tsotsobe
121
Peter Pollock
116
Neil Adcock
104
Kyle Abbott
99
Ryan McLaren
97
Chris Morris
94
Marco Jansen
85
Dwaine Pretorius
77
Nantie Hayward
75
Albie Morkel
74
Jimmy Sinclair
63
Richard Snell
63
Duanne Olivier
62
Jimmy Blanckenberg
60
Peter Heine
58
Roger Telemachus
58
Buster Nupen
50
Others: Gerald Coetzee (46), Eddie Barlow (40)
*Note: This includes wickets taken for World XI teams as well.
Top 25 Greatest South African Bowlers of All-Time (Ranked)
We considered multiple aspects while ranking these pacers: (1) Longevity, (2) Stories from opposition batters, (3) Test wickets, (4) World Cup Performances (both ODI/T20I), and (4) Pace/Talent/Swing.
It was a bit difficult to incorporate the talent lost from the 1970s-1990s since these bowlers had great first-class stats without international experience to back them up. We ranked out-and-out fast bowlers with higher Test match pedigree (ex: Steyn, Donald, Morne Morkel, Rabada) higher than some of these great first-class bowlers (like Mike Procter and Vince van der Bijl). We also considered one day internationals and T20Is for more recent players.
Lots of great South African pace bowling all-rounders in this list as well. If you haven’t read the 55 greatest all-rounders of all-time article, I would suggest you check that article out as well. Clive Rice, Jacques Kallis, Mike Procter, Eddie Barlow, Lance Klusener, and Brian McMillan make both of these lists.
Here we go!
Honorable Mentions: Vincent Barnese, Trevor Goddard, Adrian Kuiper, Gerald Coetzee, Duanne Olivier, Albie Morkel
One of my favorite memories growing up in the 2000s was watching the South African fast bowlers.
Dale Steyn’s energy, Shaun Pollock’s accuracy, Vernon Philander’s swing, the beauty in Makhaya Ntini’s action, and the tireless nature of Morne Morkel hitting the deck. The Australia Test series wins in recent times were largely based on the back of these bowlers.
The next generation of South African fast bowlers have not disappointed either. Kagiso Rabada has taken the mantle from Dale Steyn, Anrich Nortje is a star, Marco Jansen continues to impress, Lungi Ngidi keeps the bowling unit together, and Gerald Coetzee’s celebrations are a sight to behold.
Anyway, who was your favorite South Africa fast bowler?
We Think You Will Also Like
If you liked reading about South African cricket, here are some of our other content on this topic:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) – Greatest South African Fast Bowlers
Which South African fast bowlers have taken the most wickets?
Across formats, fast bowlers Shaun Pollock (829), Dale Steyn (699), Makhaya Ntini (662), Allan Donald (602), Jacques Kallis (577), Morne Morkel (544), and Kagiso Rabada (495) took the most wickets for South Africa.
Who are the most famous South African fast bowlers?
Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Allan Donald, Shaun Pollock, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Makhaya Ntini, and Mike Procter are some of the most famous South African fast bowlers.
Who are the Top 10 best South African fast bowlers?
Dale Steyn, Allan Donald, Morne Morkel, Shaun Pollock, Makhaya Ntini, Kagiso Rabada, Vernon Philander, Vince van der Bilj, Mike Procter, and Jacques Kallis are the Top 10 best South African fast bowlers of all-time.
