Mohammad Nabi, Ajantha Mendis top charts for best bowling figures at Asia Cup

India's Bhuvneshwar Kumar holds the record for best bowling figures in Asia Cup history for T20I matches. Playing against Afghanistan during an Asia Cup 2022 Super Four clash in Dubai, Bhuvneshwar Kumar recorded figures of 4-1-4-5. 

Afghanistan’s Mohammad Nabi is second on the list for best bowling figures in Asia Cup history for T20I matches. The off-break bowler, currently the T20I captain of the Afghanistan cricket team, took four wickets for 17 runs in his four overs during a qualifying fixture for the 2016 Asia Cup against Hong Kong.

Lasith Malinga features third on the list for best bowling figures in the Asia Cup in T20Is. One of the most prolific bowlers in 20-overs cricket, the former Sri Lankan pacer grabbed a 4/26 against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the 2016 edition.

Aamir Kaleem (4/36, Oman vs UAE, 2016) and Hardik Pandya (3/8, India vs Pakistan, 2016) complete the top five list for the best bowling figures in Asia Cup for T20I matches.

Hardik Pandya grabbed three wickets for a mere eight runs in India’s crunch fixture against Pakistan at the 2016 Asia Cup. His efforts helped the Indian cricket team reduce their fierce rivals to 83 all out in 17.3 overs.

Best bowling figures in Asia Cup (T20I)

Meanwhile, Ajantha Mendis has the best bowling figures in the Asia Cup for ODI matches. The former Sri Lanka spinner’s match-winning haul of 6/13 helped Sri Lanka beat India by 100 runs in the final of Asia Cup 2008.

This performance bettered his previous best - 5/22 against UAE - in the earlier stage of the 2008 edition.

Aaqib Javed (5/19, Pakistan vs India, 1995), Arshad Ayub (5/21, India vs Pakistan, 1988), and Muttiah Muralidaran (5/31, Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh, 2008) complete the top five list for the best bowling figures in Asia Cup for ODI matches.

Arshad Ayub grabbed five wickets for 21 runs in a Pakistan versus India game at the 1988 Asia Cup. Riding on Ayub’s five-wicket haul, the Indian cricket team claimed a four-wicket victory.

Best bowling figures in Asia Cup (ODI)

Author: William Paul

Featured photo: AFP / INDRANIL MUKHERJEE