Top 43 Pakistan Fast Bowlers List (The Complete Guide) | Greatest Pakistani Fast Bowlers of All Time (Updated 2023)

by Nitesh Mathur | Sep 13, 2023 | Article Index, Pakistan, World XIs - With Twists

The list of Pakistan fast bowlers continues to grow—Shaheen Shaha Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf have been ripping apart batting line ups all year.

Join us as we explore the mesmerizing realm of Pakistani fast bowlers – where passion meets skill and legends are born. Who are the greatest? The unluckiest? Who took the most wickets?

Let’s dive straight in.

Table of Contents

• Which Pakistan Fast Bowlers Have Taken The Most Wickets Across Formats?
• Top 35 List of Pakistan Fast Bowlers (Ranked)
• The Top 10 Undisputed Greats
• Pakistan Fast Bowlers in Each World Cup
• Final Thoughts
• Frequently Asked Questions

By the Numbers: Which Pakistani Fast Bowlers Have Taken the Most Wickets Across Formats?

The land of Pakistan is a factory that unearths gem of fast bowlers year in and year out.

Wasim Akram (916), Waqar Younis (789), Imran Khan (544), Shoaib Akhtar (438), and Umar Gul (427) are the Top 5 wicket-takers in Pakistan cricket history across formats.

Here is the complete list of the most wickets by Pakistani fast bowlers or medium pacers – all formats combined (Test/ODI, T20Is).

Most Wickets by Pakistan Fast Bowlers

Others: Asif Masood (43), Manzoor Elahi (36), Mohammad Akram (36), Anwar Ali (28), Yasir Arafat (29), Imran Khan (29), Rashid Khan (28), Jalal-ud-Din (25), Mohammad Zahid (25), Rumman Raees (22), Kabir Khan (21), Mohammad Farooq (21), Bilawal Bhatti (17)

Also Read:

• Top 50 Greatest West Indies Cricketers of All Time: The Complete List (2023)
• Top 17 Greatest Wicketkeepers in Cricket History (Men’s): Which Keepers Have the Most Dismissals Across Formats?
• 155 Greatest Cricketers of All Time (Men’s): Who Is the King of Cricket? (Updated 2023)
• 76 Greatest Women Cricketers of All Time: Who are the top female cricketers in history?
• Top 5 Greatest Cricket Teams Ever To Be Assembled

Top 35 List of Greatest Pakistan Fast Bowlers (Ranked)

Some aspects we considered while ranking these bowlers were (1) longevity, (2) Test match impact, (3) World Cup heroics, (4) other international match-winning performances, and (5) pace/talent/swing.

The New Generation: Up and Coming Pakistani Fast Bowlers

First up, we begin with the youth of Pakistan. These youngsters will inevitably rise up the list in the future, but for now, we are putting them here.

*Note: Youngsters like Shaheen Shah Afridi & Naseem Shah are further down below since they have already taken more than 100 international wickets in their short careers.

43. Mir Hamza – 2 Wickets

• Years Played: 2018-
• Matches: 3 (Tests)
• Wickets (Test): 2
• Best Figures in Innings: 1/38 (Test)

42. Zaman Khan – 4 Wickets

• Years Played: 2003-
• Matches: 6 (T20Is)
• Wickets (T20I): 4
• Best Figures in Innings: 1/7

41. Ihsanullah – 6 Wickets

• Years Played: 2023-
• Marches: 1 (ODI), 4 (T20I)
• Wickets (ODI/T20Is): 0/6
• Best Figures in Innings: 3/29 (T20I)

40. Shahnawaz Dahani – 9 Wickets

• Years Played: 2021-
• Matches: 2 (ODI), 11 (T20I)
• Wickets (ODI/T20Is): 1/8
• Best Figures in Innings: 1/36 (ODI), 2/37 (T20I)

39. Muhammad Hasnain – 37 Wickets

• Years Played: 2019-
• Matches: 9 (ODI), 27 (T20I)
• Wickets (ODI/T20Is): 12/25
• Best Figures in Innings: 12 (ODI), 25 (T20I)
• 4w/5w hauls: 0/1 (ODI)

38. Mohammad Wasim Jr. – 61 Wickets

• Years Played: 2021-
• Matches: 2 (Test), 15 (ODI), 35 (T20I)
• Wickets (Test/ODI/T20Is): 2/24/35
• Best Figures in Innings: 1/71 (Test), 4/36 (ODI), 4/24 (T20I)
• 4w/5w hauls: 1/0 (ODI), 2/0 (T20I)

Pakistan Fast Bowlers with Short International Careers: The Ones That Impressed but Could Not Capitalize

37. Ehsan Adil – 9 Wickets

• Years Played: 2013-15
• Matches: 3 (Test), 6 (ODI)
• Wickets (ODI/T20Is): 5/4
• Best Figures in Innings: 2/54 (Test), 1/31 (ODI)

36. Rumman Raees – 22 Wickets

• Years Played: 2016-2018
• Matches: 9 (ODI), 8 (T20I)
• Wickets (Test/ODI): 14/8
• Best Figures in Innings: 3/49 (ODI), 2/24 (T20I)

35. Yasir Arafat – 29 Wickets

• Years Played: 2000-2012
• Matches: 3 (Test), 11 (ODI), 13 (T20I)
• Wickets (Test/ODI/T20I): 9/4/16
• Best Figures in Innings: 5/161 (Test), 1/28 (ODI), 3/18 (T20I)
• 4w/5w hauls: 0/1 (Test)

34. Mohammad Zahid

• Years Played: 1996-2003
• Matches: 5 (Test), 11 (ODI)
• Wickets (Test/ODI): 15/10
• Best Figures in Innings: 7/66 (Test), 2/20 (ODI)
• 4w/5w hauls: 1/1 (Test)

33. Anwar Ali – 28 Wickets

• Years Played: 2008-2016
• Matches: 22 (ODI), 16 (T20I)
• Wickets (ODI/T20I): 18/10
• Best Figures in Innings: 3/66, 2/27

32. Usman Khan Shinwari – 48 Wickets

• Years Played: 2013-
• Matches: 1 (Test), 17 (ODI), 16 (T20I)
• Wickets (Test/ODI/T20Is): 1/34/13
• Best Figures in Innings: 1/54 (Test), 5/34 (ODI), 3/31 (T20I)
• 4w/5w hauls: 3/2 (ODI)

31. Rao Iftikhar Anjum – 78 Wickets

• Years Played: 2004-2010
• Matches: 1 (Test), 62 (ODI), 2 (T20I)
• Wickets (Test/ODI/T20Is): 1/62/2
• Best Figures in Innings: 5/30 (ODI), 1/34 (T20I)
• 4w/5w hauls:2/1 (ODI)

30. Rahat Ali – 76 Wickets

• Years Played: 2012-18
• Matches: 21 (Test), 14 (ODI)
• Wickets (Test/ODI): 58/18
• Best Figures in Innings: 6/127 (Test), 3/40 (ODI)
• 4w/5w hauls: 3/2 (Test)

29. Shabbir Ahmed – 84 Wickets

• Years Played: 1999-2007
• Matches: 10 (Test), 32 (ODI), 1 (T20I)
• Wickets (Test/ODI/T20Is): 51/33/0
• Best Figures in Innings: 5/48 (Test), 3/32 (ODI)
• 4w/5w hauls: 5/2 (Test)

28. Sohail Khan – 51 Wickets

• Years Played: 2008-2017
• Matches: 9 (Test), 13 (ODI), 5 (T20I)
• Wickets (Test/ODI/T20Is): 27/19/5
• Best Figures in Innings: 5/68 (Test), 5/55 (ODI), 2/13 (T20I)
• 4w/5w hauls: 1/2 (Test), 0/1 (ODI)

27. Mohammad Irfan – 109 Wickets

• Years Played: 2010-2019
• Matches: 4 (Test), 60 (ODI), 22 (T20I)
• Wickets (Test/ODI/T20Is): 10/83/16
• Best Figures in Innings: 3/44 (Test), 4/30 (ODI), 2/18 (T20I)
• 4w/5w hauls: 2/0 (ODI)

26. Naved Ul-Hasan Rana – 133 Wickets

• Years Played: 2003-2010
• Matches: 9 (Test), 74 (ODI), 4 (T20I)
• Wickets (Test/ODI/T20Is): 18/110/5
• Best Figures in Innings: 3/30 (Test), 6/27 (ODI), 3/19 (T20I)
• 4w/5w hauls: 6/1 (ODI)

Top 25 Greatest Pakistani Fast Bowlers of All Time

25. Sikander Bakht – 100 Wickets

• Years Played: 1976-1989
• Matches: 26 (Test), 27 (ODI)
• Wickets (Test/ODI): 67/33
• Best Figures in Innings: 8/69 (Test), 4/34(ODI)
• 4w/5w hauls: 2/3 (Test), 1/0 (ODI)

24. Naseem Shah – 98 Wickets

• Years Played: 2019-
• Matches: 17 (Test), 14 (ODI), 19 (T20I)
• Wickets (Test/ODI/T20Is): 51/32/15
• Best Figures in Innings: 5/31 (Test), 5/33 (ODI), 2/7 (T20I)
• 4w/5w hauls:2/1 (Test), 0/2 (ODI)

23. Sohail Tanvir – 130 Wickets

• Years Played: 2007-2017
• Matches: 2 (Test), 62 (ODI), 57 (T20I)
• Wickets (Test/ODI/T20Is): 5/71/54
• Best Figures in Innings: 3/83 (Test), 5/48 (ODI), 3/12 (T20I)
• 4w/5w hauls: 3/1 (ODI)

22. Junaid Khan – 189 Wickets

• Years Played: 2011-2019
• Matches: 33 (Test), 76 (ODI), 9 (T20I)
• Wickets (Test/ODI/T20Is): 71/110/8
• Best Figures in Innings: (Test), (ODI)
• 4w/5w hauls: 1/5 (Test), 4/0 (ODI)

Watch: Junaid Khan vs Virat Kohli

21. Khan Mohammad – 54 Wickets

• Years Played: 1952-1958
• Matches: 13 (Test)
• Wickets (Test): 54
• Best Figures in Innings: 6/21
• 4w/5w hauls: 4/4

20. Azhar Mahmood – 162 Wickets

• Years Played: 1996-2007
• Matches: 21 (Test), 143 (ODI)
• Wickets (Test/ODI): 39/123
• Best Figures in Innings: 4/50 (Test), 6/18 (odi0
• 4w/5w hauls: 2/0 (Test), 2/3 (ODI)

19. Mudassar Nazar – 177 Wickets

• Years Played: 1976-1989
• Matches: 76 (Test), 122 (ODI)
• Wickets (Test/ODI): 66/111
• Best Figures in Innings: 6/32 (Test), 5/28 (ODI)
• 4w/5w hauls: 1/1 (Test), 1/1 (ODI)

18. Haris Rauf – 137 Wickets

• Years Played: 2020-
• Matches: 1 (Test), 26 (ODI), 62 (T20I)
• Wickets (Test/ODI/T20Is): 1/53/83
• Best Figures in Innings: 1/78 (Test), 5/18 (ODI), 4/18
• 4w/5w hauls: 4/1 (ODI), 3/0 (T20I)

17. Mohammad Sami – 227 Wickets

• Years Played: 2001-2016
• Matches: 36 (Test), 87 (ODI), 13 (T20I)
• Wickets (Test/ODI/T20Is): 85/121/21
• Best Figures in Innings: 5/36 (Test), 5/10 (ODI), 3/16 (T20I)
• 4w/5w hauls: 3/2 (Test),3/1 (ODI)

16. Hasan Ali – 249 Wickets

• Years Played: 2016-
• Matches: 22 (Test), 60 (ODI), 50 (T20I)
• Wickets (Test/ODI/T20Is): 78/91/60
• Best Figures in Innings: 5/27(Test), 5/34 (ODI), 4/18 (T20I)
• 4w/5w hauls: 2/6 (Test), 1/4 (ODI), 1/0 (T20I)

15. Wahab Riaz – 237 Wickets

• Years Played: 2008-2020
• Matches: 27 (Test), 92 (ODI), 36 (T20I)
• Wickets (Test/ODI/T20Is): 83/120/34
• Best Figures in Innings: 5/63 (Test), 5/46 (ODI), 3/18 (T20I)
• 4w/5w hauls: 3/2 (Test), 5/1 (ODI)

Watch: Wahab Riaz vs Shane Watson

14. Mahmood Hussain – 68 Wickets

• Years Played: 1952-1962
• Matches: 27 (Test)
• Wickets (Test): 68
• Best Figures in Innings: 6/67
• 4w/5w hauls: 4/2

13. Mohammad Abbas – 91 Wickets

• Years Played: 2017-
• Matches: 25 (Test), 3 (ODI)
• Wickets (Test/ODI):90/1
• Best Figures in Innings: 5/33 (Test), 1/44 (ODI)
• 4w/5w hauls: 6/4 (Test)

12. Abdul Razzaq – 389 Wickets

• Years Played: 1996-2013
• Matches: 46 (Test), 265 (ODI), 32 (T20I)
• Wickets (Test/ODI/T20Is): 100/269/20
• Best Figures in Innings:5/35 (Test), 6/35 (ODI), 3/13 (T20I)
• 4w/5w hauls: 4/1 (Test), 8/3 (ODI)

11. Mohammad Amir – 259 Wickets

• Years Played: 2009-2020
• Matches: 36 (Test), 61 (ODI), 50 (T20I)
• Wickets (Test/ODI/T20Is): 119/81/59
• Best Figures in Innings: 6/44 (Test), 5/30 (ODI) 4/13 (T20I)
• 4w/5w hauls: 6/4 (Test), 1/1 (ODI), 1/0 (T20I)

The Undisputed Greats: Top 10 Best Pakistani Fast Bowlers of All-Time

10. Shaheen Shah Afridi – 255 Wickets

• Years Played: 2018-
• Matches: 27 (Test), 43 (ODI), 52 (T20I)
• Wickets (Test/ODI/T20Is): 105/84/64
• Best Figures in Innings: 6/51 (Test), 6/35 (ODI), 4/22 (T20I)
• 4w/5w hauls: 11/4 (Test), 6/2 (ODI), 1/0 (T20I)

Watch: The King Of Swing At His Best | Top 30 Wickets of Shaheen Shah Afridi

9. Aaqib Javed – 236 Wickets

• Years Played: 1988-1998
• Matches: 22 (Test), 163 (T20I)
• Wickets (Test/ODI): 54/182
• Best Figures in Innings: 5/84 (Test), 7/37 (ODI)
• 4w/5w hauls:2 /1 (Test), 2/4 (ODI)

Watch: Aaqib Javed’s Spell Against India

8. Umar Gul – 427 Wickets

• Years Played: 2003-2016
• Matches: 47 (Test), 130 (ODI), 60 (T20I)
• Wickets (Test/ODI/T20Is): 163/179/85
• Best Figures in Innings: 6/135 (Test), 6/42 (ODI), 5/6 (T20I)
• 4w/5w hauls: 12/4 (Test), 4/2 (ODI), 4/2 (T20I)

Also Read: The Magician With the Yorker – Umar Gul

Watch: UMAR GUL TOP 15 BOWLED COMPILATION

7. Sarfraz Nawaz – 240 Wickets

• Years Played: 1969-1984
• Matches: 55 (Test), 45 (ODI)
• Wickets (Test/ODI):177/63
• Best Figures in Innings: 9/86 (Test), 4/27 (ODI)
• 4w/5w hauls: 14/4 (Test), 4/0 (ODI)

Watch: Sarfraz Nawaz 9/86 vs Australia 1st test 1978/79 MCG PART ONE

6. Mohammad Asif – 165 Wickets

• Years Played: 2005-2010
• Matches: 23 (Test), 38 (ODI)
• Wickets (Test/ODI/T20Is): 106/46/13
• Best Figures in Innings: 6/41 (Test), 3/28 (ODI), 4/18 (T20I)
• 4w/5w hauls: 6/7 (Test), 1/0 (T20I)

Watch: From the Vault: Asif rocks Australia with six at the SCG – YouTube

5. Fazal Mahmood – 139 Wickets

• Years Played: 1952-1962
• Matches: 34 (Test)
• Wickets (Test): 139
• Best Figures in Innings: 7/42 (Test)
• 4w/5w hauls: 6/13 (Test)

Watch: Fazal Mahmood Bowling Clip

4. Shoaib Akhtar – 445 Wickets

• Years Played: 1997-2011
• Matches: 46 (Test), 163 (ODI), 16 (T20I)
• Wickets (Test/ODI/T20Is): 179/247/19
• Best Figures in Innings: 6/11 (Test), 6/16 (ODI), 3/38 (T20I)
• 4w/5w hauls: 10/12 (Test), 6/4 (ODI)

Watch: Shoaib Akhtar Bowling Killer Yorker to Famous players | Best Yorkers in Cricket History

3. Imran Khan – 544 Wickets

• Years Played: 1971-1992
• Matches: 88 (Test), 175 (ODI)
• Wickets (Test/ODI): 362/182
• Best Figures in Innings: 8/58 (Test), 6/14 (ODI)
• 4w/5w hauls: 17/23 (Test), 3/1 (ODI)

Watch: (30) Mix Tape: All-round Imran at his brilliant best – YouTube

2. Waqar Younis – 789 Wickets

• Years Played: 1989-2003
• Matches: 87 (Test), 262 (ODI)
• Wickets (Test/ODI): 373/416
• Best Figures in Innings: 7/76 (Test), 7/36 (ODI)
• 4w/5w hauls: 28/22 (Test), 14/13 (ODI)

Watch: Mix Tape: Waqar Younis sending stumps flying

1. Wasim Akram – 916 Wickets

• Years Played: 1984-2003
• Matches: 104 (Test), 356 (ODI)
• Wickets (Test/ODI): 414/502
• Best Figures in Innings: 7/119 (Test), 5/15 (ODI)
• 4w/5w hauls: 20/25 (Test), 17/6 (ODI)

Watch: Wasim Akram Top 10 Swing Balls – YouTube

Pakistan Fast Bowlers in Each World Cup

ODI World Cup

• 1975 ODI WC: Asif Iqbal,Sarfraz Nawaz, Imran Khan, Naseer Malik, Asif Masood, Pervez Mir
• 1979 ODI WC: Asif Iqbal, Sikander Bakht, Imran Khan, Mudassar Nazar, Hasan Jamil
• 1983 ODI WC: Imran Khan, Mudassar Nazar, Rashid Khan, Sarfraz Nawaz, Shahid Mahboob, Tahir Naqqash
• 1987 ODI WC: Imran Khan, Manzoor Elahi, Saleem Jaffar, Wasim Akram
• 1992 ODI WC: Imran Khan, Aaqib Javed, Wasim Akram, Wasim Haider
• 1996 ODI WC: Wasim Akram, Aaqib Javed, Ata-ur-Rehman, Waqar Younis
• 1999 ODI WC: Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Azhar Mahmood, Abdul Razzaq, Shoaib Akhtar
• 2003 ODI WC: Waqar Younis, Abdul Razzaq, Azhar Mahmood, Mohammad Sami, Shoaib Akhtar, Wasim Akram
• 2007 ODI WC: Azhar Mahmood, Mohammad Sami, Naved-ul-Hasan Rana, Rao Iftikhar Anjum, Umar Gul, Yasir Arafat
• 2011 ODI WC: Abdul Razzaq, Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz, Junaid Khan (replaced Sohail Tanvir)
• 2015 ODI WC: Wahab Riaz, Sohail Khan, Rahat Ali (Junaid Khan Withdrawn), Mohammad Irfan, Ehsan Adil
• 2019 ODI WC: Hasan Ali, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Hasnain, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Wahab Riaz

T20 World Cup

• 2007 T20 WC: Iftikhar Anjum Rao, Mohammad Asif, Sohail Tanvir, Umar Gul, Yasir Arafat
• 2009 T20 WC: Rao Iftikhar Anjum (replaces Shoaib Akhtar), Mohammad Amir, Shoail Tanvir, Umar Gul, Yasir Arafat (replaces Abdul Razzaq)
• 2010 T20 WC: Abdul Razzaq, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Sami, Hammad Azam
• 2012 T20 WC: Yasir Arafat, Umar Gul, Abdul Razzaq, Mohammad Sami, Sohail Tanvir
• 2014 T20 WC: Bilawal Bhatti, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Talha, Sohail Tanvir, Umar Gul
• 2016 T20 WC: Anwar Ali, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Irfan, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Sami
• 2021 T20 WC: Shaheen Shah Afridi, Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Shahnawaz Dahani (Reserve)
• 2022 T20 WC: Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Shahnawaz Dahani (Reserve)

Final Thoughts

We have all heard the phrase, “Pace is pace.”

Pure pace can wreak havoc for the opposition teams while providing moments of beauty for the audience.

Pakistan cricket has been a blessing to the cricketing world due to the fast bowlers talent they produce. It was Sarfraz Nawaz & Imran Khan early on, Fazal Mohammad & Khan Mohammad even earlier. The trio of Wasim Akram-Waqar Younis-Shoaib Akhtar took the legend of Pakistani fast bowling to new heights.

Each generation since, Pakistan continues to find raw talent like Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Naseem Shah today, and I hope they continue to produce such gems for years to come.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) – Greatest Pakistan Fast Bowlers

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