Young Pakistani spinner Sufiyan Muqeem made headlines during the second T20I match against Zimbabwe on December 3 at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. The talented left-arm bowler achieved remarkable success, recording the best bowling figures for Pakistan in T20 internationals. He took five wickets for just three runs in 2.4 overs, which helped dismiss Zimbabwe for a mere 57 runs, their lowest score in T20Is.
Thanks to Muqeem’s outstanding performance, Pakistan easily chased down the small target, winning the match by ten wickets in only 5.3 overs. His impressive efforts earned him the Player of the Match award, marking a notable achievement in his seventh T20I appearance. The 25-year-old spinner had previously made his international debut at the Asian Games 2023 against Hong Kong, where he also made an impact by taking two wickets for 11 runs in four overs.
In that tournament, Muqeem ended with four wickets over three matches. He recently participated in the ACC Men’s T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup, taking six wickets in four games, with an average of 14.50 and an economy rate of 5.80, including standout figures of 2/28 against India A.
Before his international success, Muqeem played for Dolphins in the domestic Champions One Day Cup, where he struggled to find form, managing only two wickets in three matches. However, he redeemed himself during the T20I series against Australia in November, taking two wickets for 21 runs in the second T20I, which included dismissing well-known players Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis.
Muqeem’s series against Zimbabwe started strong as he was the top bowler for Pakistan in the first T20I with figures of 3/20 in four overs. Following his impressive five-wicket haul in the second match, he now leads the wicket tally for the series with a total of eight wickets across two games, boasting an average of 2.87 and an impressive economy of 3.45.
His record-shattering figures of 5/3 have now surpassed the previous best for Pakistan in T20s, which was held by Umar Gul at 5/6 in 2009 and 2013. So far, Muqeem has claimed 14 wickets in his T20I career after being promoted to the national team following just five matches in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) with Peshawar Zalmi. Although he has only taken four wickets in those five PSL matches, his potential is evident.
While Muqeem has yet to make his first-class debut, his talent and performance in limited opportunities suggest that he could become a significant player for Pakistan, especially as the team looks for a reliable spinner in the longer format. At just 25 years old, he represents a promising prospect for the future of Pakistani cricket.
