In an extraordinary display of spin bowling, Pakistan‘s left-arm spinner Sufiyan Muqeem claimed a stunning five-wicket haul in the second T20I against Zimbabwe at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. His remarkable performance, not only sealed a dominant 10-wicket victory for Pakistan but also etched his name into the record books with the best bowling figures in T20I history for Pakistan.
Here are the top 5 best bowling figures for Pakistan in a T20 international:
5. Umar Gul (4/8) – 2009 vs Australia
Gul, Pakistan’s veteran fast bowler, made his mark on the list with a remarkable spell against Australia in May 2009 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium (DICS). He took 4 wickets for just 8 runs, helping Pakistan to a 7-wicket victory. Gul’s exceptional bowling performance in the match alongside with Shahid Afridi, earned him the Player of the Match award.
4. Imad Wasim (5/14) – 2016 vs West Indies
Left-arm off-spinner Wasim joined this prestigious list in September 2016 during a match against the West Indies at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Wasim’s remarkable 5-wicket haul, conceding only 14 runs, was instrumental in Pakistan’s 9-wicket victory. For his outstanding performance, Wasim was named Player of the Match.
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3. Umar Gul (5/6) – 2013 vs South Africa
Gul made his second entry on the list in the 2013 Pakistan tour of South Africa. In the second T20I at SuperSport Park, he bowled a stunning 2.2-over spell, picking up 5 wickets for just 6 runs. His performance played a key role in Pakistan’s dominant 95-run win, further cementing his reputation as one of Pakistan’s finest T20 bowlers.
2. Umar Gul (5/6) – 2009 vs New Zealand (ICC T20 World Cup)
Gul made another spectacular contribution in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2009 in June. Against New Zealand at The Oval, Gul took 5 wickets for just 6 runs in his 3-over spell. His exceptional performance was crucial to Pakistan’s 6-wicket victory, and he was named Player of the Match for his remarkable bowling.
1. Sufiyan Muqeem (5/3) – 2024 vs Zimbabwe
The most recent addition to this illustrious list is Muqeem, whose 5 wickets for just 3 runs is now the best-ever T20I bowling performance for Pakistan. His economy rate of 1.12 and his ability to dismantle the Zimbabwean batting line-up was a key factor in Pakistan’s dominant win. Muqeem’s extraordinary effort on December 3, 2024, earned him the Player of the Match award and has already made his name synonymous with T20I excellence in Pakistan cricket.
