Team India’s struggles against left-arm pacers continued in IND vs PAK Asia Cup 2023 clash on Saturday. Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer were once again at the receiving end of an onslaught by pacers Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf.
While India have dominated against Pakistan in last decade, the Men in Blue have had their troubles against the Pakistan’s pace batteries.
Left-arm bowlers have been troubling Indian batters, especially at the World Cups for more than a decade. Be it Mohammed Amir, Mohammad Asif or Shaheen Afridi, Indian batters have struggled to get going like they do against other bowlers.
In this article, we will mention top 5 Pakistani pacers who have troubled the star Indian batters.
Wasim Akram
The legendary left-arm fast bowler is widely regarded as one of the greatest bowlers of all time. He had the ability to swing the ball both ways at high speed, and also mastered the art of reverse swing. He was a nightmare for any batsman, but especially for the Indians, who often struggled against his variations. Akram played 48 ODIs against India, taking 60 wickets at an average of 23.83 and an economy rate of 3.72.
Mohammad Asif
The right-arm fast-medium bowler had a short but brilliant career before he was banned for spot-fixing in 2010. He was known for his line and length, and his ability to move the ball off the seam. He troubled many top batters around the world, but he had a special knack for dismissing the Indian stars. Asif played 9 matches against India, taking 11 wickets. His best figures of 4/18 came in the T20 World Cup 2007, where he dismissed Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh and Dinesh Karthik.
Mohammad Amir
The left-arm fast bowler made a sensational debut as a teenager in 2009, before he was also banned for spot-fixing in 2010. He made a comeback in 2016, and has was one of Pakistan’s leading bowlers in all formats. He had a lethal combination of pace, swing and yorkers, which makes him a threat in any conditions. He was particularly effective against India in big matches, such as the final of the 2017 Champions Trophy. Amir has played 9 matches against India, taking 12 wickets at an average of just over 20. His best figures of 3/16 came in the Champions Trophy 2017.
Junaid Khan
The left-arm fast-medium bowler was once a consistent performer for Pakistan in ODIs. He had good variations and can swing the ball both ways with accuracy. Junaid played 6 ODIs against India, taking 9 wickets at an average of 20.44 and an economy rate of 4.77. He also took one four-wicket haul against them. His best figures of 4/43 came in Chennai in 2012 where his spell set up a famous Pakistan win.
Shaheen Afridi
The young left-arm fast bowler is one of the most exciting talents in world cricket today. He has a towering height of 6’6″, which gives him extra bounce and angle. He also has good pace and control, and can swing the ball both ways. He has been impressive in all formats for Pakistan. Afridi has played 2 ODIs and 2 T20Is against India so far. His best came in Asia Cup 2023 where he picked 4/35.
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