Pakistan Super League has always been known for its bowling talent. Each season introduces a new bowling sensation to the world. Also, the pitches in the early seasons were heavily in favor of bowlers.
Therefore, bowlers have dominated the PSL in most of its editions. Here, we will talk about the top wicket-takers of the Pakistan Super League of each season from 2016 to 2022. Also, you will find their key stats and figures.
So let’s start.
PSL 2016 Highest Wicket Taker
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You may be surprised to know that the top wicket-taker in the inaugural season of the PSL was an overseas cricketer. Adding to your surprise, the cricketer is an all-rounder and is primarily known for his batting. It’s none other than star West Indies’ all-rounder Andre Russell, famously known as Dre Russ.
The pacer picked up 16 wickets in 10 matches. He was used as a strike bowler by Islamabad United. Russell bowled at crucial stages and conceded runs at just 8.03 runs per over. His best bowling figures in the league were 3 for 18.
PSL 2017 Highest Wicket Taker
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Sohail Khan from Karachi Kings was the highest wicket-taker in season 2 of the PSL. He took 16 wickets in his 9 outings with the ball. The seamer was excellent with his economy rate as well and went for just 7.61 runs an over. He also had an excellent strike rate, as he took a wicket every 11.8 balls. Sohail’s best bowling figures in the tournament read 3 for 23.
PSL 2018 Highest Wicket Taker
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Another Pakistani fast-bowler follows Sohail Khan on the list. Faheem Ashraf was representing Islamabad United in PSL 3, and he grabbed 18 scalps in 12 games. His economy rate of 7.75 was impressive, too, and he helped his side to their second PSL title. Also, he was taking a wicket in every 13.3 deliveries. His best bowling performance of the season was 3 for 19 in 4 overs.
PSL 2019 Highest Wicket Taker
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Hasan Ali was in exceptional form during the 4th season of the Pakistan Super League. His team Peshawar Zalmi couldn’t win the league after losing to Quetta Gladiators in the final. But Hasan Ali was in sensational touch during the tournament. He took three 4-wicket-hauls in a single edition with a best of 4 for 15.
The speedster took 25 wickets in 12 innings. His economy rate of 6.77 was also incredibly good. Hasan had a strike rate of 12 in the season, which means he took 2 wickets in each of his outings with the ball. His 25 wickets in PSL 2019 are still the highest number of scalps by a bowler in one PSL season.
PSL 2020 Highest Wicket Taker
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It was just the third PSL season of Shaheen Shah Afridi, and he emerged as the top wicket-taker of the edition. It was an extraordinary achievement for the youngster. He was quite unfortunate for not being able to carry his team over the line in the final. Lahore Qalandars and Shaheen Shah Afridi were denied by Babar Azam in the final, and they ended up as a runners-up.
The left-arm pacer picked 17 wickets in just 12 matches. Also, he went for just 7.11 runs per over. That economy rate is mighty impressive for someone who bowled 2 overs in the powerplay and 2 at the death. His best bowling figures in the tournament were 4 for 18. Shaheen had a strike rate of 16.8 in the 5th season of the PSL.
PSL 2021 Highest Wicket Taker
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After Shaheen, another young Pakistani pacer became the highest wicket-taker in a PSL season. Shahnawaz Dahani took 20 wickets in his debut PSL season. He was introduced by the Multan Sultans and played a pivotal role in making them Champions.
He also took a couple of 4-fers in 11 matches. The fast bowler’s best bowling figures in the season read 4 for 5. Dahani’s economy rate of 8.42 was fairly expensive. However, his strike rate of 12.1 shows that he took wickets regularly.
PSL 2022 Highest Wicket Taker
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PSL has a trend of having the highest wicket-takers and top run-scorers from the title-winning team. The same was the case in PSL 2022. But for the first time in 7 seasons, a captain took the highest wickets in a PSL season. It was none other than the skipper of Lahore Qalandars, Shaheen Shah Afridi.
In his 13 matches in PSL 2022, he bagged 20 scalps. His best bowling figures in the tournament were 3 for 30. Shaheen was unplayable in the first over, and he strengthened his reputation as a new ball bowler. He also bowled pin-point yorkers at the death and used his off-cutter cleverly.
Despite bowling these crucial overs, Shaheen’s economy rate was just 7.57, and he took a wicket in every 15.6 balls. At the age of just 22, he has been the top wicket-taker of the PSL in 2 seasons. He is the only bowler to achieve this feat.
List of Highest PSL Wicket Takers by Season
Let’s take a look at the top wicket-takers of the PSL in every season:
Season Top Wicket-Taker Team Matches Wickets Economy Rate Best Bowling Figures
2016 Andre Russell Islamabad United 10 16 8.04 3/18
2017 Sohail Khan Karachi Kings 9 16 7.61 3/23
2018 Faheem Ashraf Islamabad United 12 18 7.75 3/19
2019 Hasan Ali Peshawar Zalmi 13 25 6.77 4/15
2020 Shaheen Shah Afridi Lahore Qalandars 12 17 7.11 4/18
2021 Shahnawaz Dahani Multan Sultans 11 20 8.42 4/5
2022 Shaheen Shah Afridi Lahore Qalandars 13 20 7.57 3/20
