#StatAttack: 5 unique records held by Pakistanis in ODIs
What's the story
The 1992 ICC World Cup winners, Pakistan, have a rich cricketing history. The team has an amazing achievement of winning each of the major ICC tournaments. Today, Zaman became the first Pakistani batsman and overall 6th to score a double ton in ODIs, when he scored 210* against Zimbabwe. In this context, we look at five unique ODI records held by Pakistani cricketers.
Wasim Akram
The cricketers with hat-tricks in Tests and ODI
The 'Sultan of Swing', Wasim Akram, holds the unique record of picking up a hat-trick in Test cricket (vs Sri Lanka) as well as in ODIs (vs Australia and West Indies). He shares this record with Pakistan's Mohammad Sami. Akram is one of the best left-arm bowlers of all time. He, along with Waqar and Imran, introduced the art of reverse swing.
Waqar Younis
The man who put the reverse into swing
Waqar Younis played alongside Wasim Akram and these two legends created the most lethal bowling attack in 1990s. Waqar was the master of the late in-swing, designed to hit the base of the leg stump. Waqar has the unique record of having the most 5-wicket haul in the history of ODIs. He picked 13 fifers in 262 matches.
Saqlain Mushtaq
Fastest to reach 150, 200 and 250 wickets
Pakistani spin-bowler, Saqlain Mushtaq, is a record-breaking wicket-taker. He is perhaps the first off-spinner to master the art of 'doosra'. His unparalleled achievement in cricket is that he is the fastest bowler to reach 150 wickets (78 matches), 200 wickets (104 matches) and 250 wickets (138 matches) in ODIs. Mushtaq, however, lost his place in the squad after Danish Kaneria rose to prominence.
Wakram-Sharjah
Most ODI wickets on a single ground
The Akram-Waqar pair is so legendary that they have made their ways into this list again. Akram and Sharjah were a match made in heaven, as the swing bowler always seemed to be at his best at this cricket ground. Akram has taken an unprecedented 122 wickets at Sharjah Cricket Stadium and his compatriot Waqar Younis follows him with 114 at the same venue.
Shahid Afridi
8000+ ODI runs and 350+ ODI wickets
Shahid Afridi is, without a shadow of a doubt, one of the best all-rounders in the history of ODI cricket. One of the biggest Pakistani icons of the game, Afridi is the first person to cross the 8,000-run mark and 350 wickets in ODI history. He is also the player to score the 3rd fastest century in ODI cricket.