Kuldeep Yadav’s skill lies in his ability to spin the ball from his wrist, making him a potent wicket-taker. Pakistan has introduced a similar spinner, Sufiyan Muqeem, to compete in the Asia Cup. This 25-year-old left-arm spinner also uses his wrists to spin the ball. He has been consistently taking wickets since his debut for Pakistan, particularly drawing attention during the Emerging Asia Cup against India.
Muqeem debuted for Pakistan in October 2023. In the Emerging Asia Cup final in July 2023, Muqeem’s spell of 3 wickets for 66 runs in 10 overs helped Pakistan A secure the win against India A. Before the senior Indian team’s Asia Cup triumph in September, Muqeem had already made a statement by contributing to India A’s loss, which led to his selection in the senior Pakistan team. In his inaugural T20 match for Pakistan in October 2023, he took 2 wickets against Hong Kong.
Since his T20 International debut, Sufiyan Muqeem has secured 25 wickets in 17 matches, maintaining an economy rate of 6.29. His best performance was a remarkable spell where he took 5 wickets for only 3 runs against Zimbabwe.
With India yet to experience Muqeem’s bowling, he could present a strategic surprise for Pakistan in their upcoming match on September 14. Consequently, he possesses the potential to pose a significant challenge to India during the Asia Cup 2025.
