Ranking Saqlain Mushtaq’s top 3 bowling performances in ODI

Saqlain Mushtaq is an all-time great in Pakistan cricket. What Wasim Akram is to budding fast bowlers in Pakistan Saqlain Mushtaq is exactly the same for upcoming spinners in that part of the world. His impact on international cricket is long-lasting and, in this article, we will rewind to take a look at his top 3 bowling performances in ODI cricket. 

5/20 vs England, 2000

Saqlain Mushtaq picked up 6 five-wicket hauls in his ODI career and this spell is the best of all those 5-fers. The England team was on the tour to Pakistan and Saqlain Mushtaq left them stunned in the third match of the ODI series at Rawalpindi. The English team was batting first but had no clue about Mushtaq’s plans. They got bundled out for 158 runs in the first innings and the off-spinner had a big role in that. Pakistan won this match in the end and Saqlain was adjudged the player of the match for his brilliant bowling spell. 

5/29 vs Australia, 1996

Mushtaq had the skills to take wickets in every condition and not just in Pakistan. He delivered this performance against a mighty Australian batting unit while defending a chasable target of 224 runs in the second innings. In the initial phase of the second innings, he dismissed Mark Taylor and came back in the later phase to wrap up the Australian innings. First, he got rid of Steve Waugh to break the partnership and then got more wickets in quick succession to win the match for Pakistan by 12 runs. 

5/35 vs Bangladesh, 1999

In the 1999 ODI World Cup Pakistan reached the finals but sustained a shock defeat against Bangladesh in the group stage. It was a shambolic performance for Pakistan but there was one saving grace and it was Saqlain Mushtaq’s five-wicket haul in the first innings. Bangladesh was restricted to 223 runs in the first innings courtesy of Mushtaq’s bowling performance. He conceded only 35 runs in his quota of 10 overs and picked up 5 wickets. 

Read More: OTD| Former Legendary Pakistani Spinner and Inventor of ‘Doosra,’ Saqlain Mushtaq, Was Born in 1976