Pakistan’s emerging left-arm spinner Sufiyan Muqeem made an unforgettable entrance into ODI cricket, delivering a standout performance in his debut during the third and final ODI against South Africa.
His 4/52 on debut not only sealed a 36-run victory for Pakistan but also placed him in an elite group of spinners with the best bowling figures on debut for the country.
Sufiyan Muqeem’s remarkable spell saw him claim four crucial wickets, joining an illustrious list of Pakistani bowlers who have excelled in their ODI debuts. The young spinner is now the fourth Pakistan spinner to claim four wickets in his first ODI:
| Player | Figures | Opponent | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abdul Qadir | 4/21 | New Zealand | 1983 |
| Abrar Ahmed | 4/33 | Zimbabwe | 2024 |
| Sufiyan Muqeem | 4/52 | South Africa | 2024 |
| Faisal Akram | 3/24 | Zimbabwe | 2024 |
Two Pakistan pacers also feature on this list:
| Player | Figures | Opponent | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zakir Khan | 4/19 | New Zealand | 1984 |
| Sarfaraz Nawaz | 4/46 | New Zealand | 1973 |
His latest heroics come after he caught everyone’s eye against Zimbabwe, auguring a promising career for the left armer.
This win marked a historic first as Pakistan became the only team to whitewash South Africa in a bilateral ODI series on their home soil. The 3-0 triumph further cemented Pakistan’s dominance in ODIs under skipper Mohammad Rizwan.
As Pakistan heads toward the Champions Trophy 2025, Rizwan’s leadership and the team’s form make them strong contenders for further success.
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A 4/52 bowling figure indeed looks good on paper, but the quality of those wickets and the bowling performance overall tell a deeper story. Bowling short lengths consistently can be risky, especially against strong batsmen like Klaasen who can capitalize on such deliveries. He got a bit lucky with those last few wickets. Overall, he needs hard work on his bowling length.