Pakistan’s legendary cricketer Wasim Akram recently criticized the national team’s bowling performance, stating that they picked 24 wickets at an average of 60. But how accurate is this claim? Let’s analyze the numbers and see if Akram’s statement holds true.
- Pakistan’s bowlers have taken 24 wickets in ODIs in 2025.
- Their average of 60.75 is the second-worst among all teams.
- Their economy rate (6.13) and strike rate (59.4) are among the lowest.
- Pakistan’s batting has been inconsistent despite scoring the third-most runs in 2025.
Pakistan’s Bowling Struggles in 2025
Despite being considered future stars, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf have struggled to perform consistently. Their 24 wickets in five ODIs rank eighth among 14 teams in 2025. However, their average of 60.75 is only better than Afghanistan (63).
Their economy rate of 6.13 is among the worst, with only Afghanistan (6.30) and England (6.92) faring worse. Their strike rate of 59.4 is just slightly ahead of Afghanistan (60) and Bangladesh (69.5).
Pakistan Bowlers vs Non-Test Playing Nations
Akram pointed out that bowlers from associate nations like Namibia, USA, and Oman have performed better. While this is true statistically, these teams have played in low-scoring ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 matches, which affect their numbers.
How Have Pakistani Batters Performed?
The batting unit has also contributed to the team’s struggles. Pakistan has scored 1,290 ODI runs in 2025, placing them third behind India (1,342) and New Zealand (1,898). However, their batting average of 30 ranks only sixth among all teams. Their strike rate of 88.23 is even lower, with Zimbabwe outscoring them in both metrics.
Wasim Akram just nailed it for us. What a man and what a character 🇵🇰😭😭 #ChampionsTrophy2025
— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) February 23, 2025
pic.twitter.com/LBIf7RFDWb
Pakistan’s Decline in ICC Tournaments
Pakistan’s recent ICC tournament failures have intensified criticism. The team:
- Finished last in the World Test Championship 2023-25 standings.
- Failed to qualify for the semi-finals in the last three ICC events.
- Struggled despite being the defending champions and hosts of the 2025 Champions Trophy.
Wasim Akram’s claim about Pakistan’s bowling struggles in 2025 is accurate. Their poor bowling and inconsistent batting have led to another disappointing tournament exit. With major coaching and staff changes expected, Pakistan must rebuild to compete at the highest level.
Check out the Champions Trophy Stats
