5 best Pakistani spinners of all time
Pakistan as a country are known to produce some extraordinary fast bowlers, but over the years they have produced some quality spinners too. After receiving their Test status in the year of 1952, Pakistan didn’t take long to settle into the groove of international cricket, straight away, they recorded a sensational win over England during their 1st ever abroad tour.
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Over the years, the spin bowlers from Pakistan has remained under the shadows of their fast bowlers, but despite their dominance, the spinners too have had some praiseworthy performances in the past. Abdul Qadir kept the art of leg break intact in an era dominated by fast bowlers.
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Saqlain Mushtaq invented a delivery (doosra) which later on became the surprise delivery for many other successful Test bowlers. Players like Saeed Ajmal, Danish Kaneria, Mushtaq Ahmed, Abdur Rehman also played vital roles for Pakistan in their success.
With the rise of another potentially sensational leg break bowler Yasir Shah, we are hopeful that the country will produce many more quality spinners in the near future. Yasir Shah reminded every one of the magical delivery Shane Warne had bowled in the Ashes series in 2005 to Andrew Strauss. It was a mirror image of that ball and comparisons have started in the cricketing fraternity that which ball was better.
Now, here is a list of famous spinners who played for Pakistan.
#1-Abdul Qadir (right-arm wrist spin)
Abdul Qadir was a bowler who revolutionised spin bowling in an era where fast bowlers dominated. Leg break as an art which was nearly obsolete in the cricketing circles during that time and he was the man who kept the dying art intact.
He bamboozled batsman with his variations, especially his googlies. He had 2 types of googlies up his sleeve along with the orthodox leg-break, the top spinner and the flipper. He was a bowler Shane Warne idolised as a child and he also took tips from him during his initial years at the international level.
Qadir made his Test debut against England in the year 1977. He played 67 Tests and 104 ODIs for Pakistan spanning from 1977-1993. He was regarded as the best spinner of his generation. Former England captain Graham Gooch said that Qadir was finer than Shane Warne.
Qadir finished his career with 236 Test wickets and 132 ODI wickets. Abdul Qadir also served as a selector in 2009 and was instrumental in picking the side which won the ICC World Twenty20 in England.