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Modern-day cricket has witnessed the rise of several world-class bowlers who dominate across formats. With the evolution of batting techniques and aggressive playing styles, bowlers must constantly adapt to stay ahead. The likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Pat Cummins, Shaheen Afridi, and Kagiso Rabada are often regarded as some of the toughest bowlers to face. Their ability to generate pace, movement, and variations makes them a nightmare for batters across all conditions.
However, picking the absolute toughest bowler is a challenging task, as it depends on various factors, including skillset, adaptability, and consistency. While many would expect a household name like Bumrah or Cummins to be the top pick, legendary Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar has made a rather surprising choice.
Shoaib Akhtar reveals his pick
Akhtar, known for his blistering pace and fearless opinions, has named Afghanistan’s Fazalhaq Farooqi as the toughest bowler in modern-day cricket. Speaking on Switch, Akhtar praised Farooqi’s intelligence and ability to trouble batters with his precise bowling.
“There is no doubt that Fazalhaq Farooqi is the smartest bowler in current cricket. The most special thing about his bowling is that he does not give room to the batsmen. He has played so much cricket till now that he knows how to bowl to the batsman. He has learnt to read the batsman’s mind. At present Fazalhaq Farooqi is one of the toughest bowlers in the world. It is very difficult to hit him with the new ball,” said Akhtar.
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The Rawalpindi Express further elaborated on how Farooqi has improved his skills and is now effective with both the new and old ball.
“Now he is bowling well even with the old ball. He has a yorker and a slow ball. He is the smartest bowler in the world. He knows his game. Earlier he was not able to read the batsmen but now he is constantly reading the batsman and putting the batsmen in trouble,” added Akhtar.
Impressive performance in ILT20 2025
Farooqi has been in sensational form in the ongoing ILT20 2025, where he has emerged as the leading wicket-taker of the tournament. The Afghanistan pacer has taken an impressive 20 wickets in just 10 matches, showcasing his ability to dismantle batting line-ups. His performances have not only caught the attention of experts like Akhtar but have also solidified his reputation as one of the most promising fast bowlers in world cricket.
