Stats Prove Pakistan is the Worst Death Overs Bowling Team in 2025

Pakistan’s once-revered pace bowling attack is facing serious questions in 2025, with Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Naseem Shah all struggling to make a mark in the international arena. What is particularly troubling is Pakistan’s inability to cope in the death overs (overs 46-50) in One Day Internationals (ODIs).

According to the stats, the numbers paint a worrying picture: Pakistan’s bowlers have the worst economy rate at the death, conceding a staggering 12.03 runs per over across six innings (not including the latest ODI against New Zealand). This is the highest among all major cricketing nations, with South Africa (11.86) and England (10.63) trailing behind.

It’s not just the economy rate that’s troubling. Pakistan’s bowling average in the death overs stands at 32.42, meaning they’re not only leaking runs but also struggling to take wickets when the batters are going haywire. Their strike rate of 18.17, while not the worst, still pales in comparison to teams like Afghanistan (8.67) and New Zealand (12.63), who have been far more effective in closing out innings.

In contrast, teams like New Zealand and India have shown remarkable control in the death overs, with economy rates of 8.14 and 7.82, respectively. Their bowling performances directly correlate to their excellent team results, highlighted by India’s Champions Trophy win and New Zealand’s seemingly constant upper hand against Pakistan in recent months.

Pakistan’s bowling struggled came to the fore in the tri-nation series and then carried over to the lackluster Champions Trophy. Things did not get better in New Zealand either, despite the constant change of faces.

Team Comparison in Death Overs (Pace Bowling)

So, what’s going wrong for Pakistan’s once-formidable pace bowling attack? Experts point to a mix of issues: inconsistent execution of yorkers, over-reliance on raw pace, and a lack of variety in their bowling arsenal.

Batting challenges have also drastically evolved in recent years, with batters now able to deposit almost every ball over the boundary with ease. Pakistan’s bowling unit has simply failed to meet modern standards, which is indicative of a deeper, more systemic problem plaguing Pakistan cricket at the moment.

This problem has already cost Pakistan several games this year, with opposition teams capitalizing on their inability to contain runs in the final overs. With major ICC and ACC events looming, this is a problem Pakistan can’t afford to ignore.

For now, though, Pakistan’s death bowling remains a major concern. Whether they can fix it in time for the big tournaments ahead will be a storyline worth following. One thing is certain: if they want to compete with the best, they’ll need to find answers—and fast.