10 Fastest Runners in Cricket

1. MS Dhoni (India)

India’s inspirational captain MS Dhoni is at the very top of this list. All of his time in the army has clearly paid off but it’s said that he is blessed with a natural ability. Those close to the game say that MSD doesn’t spend a lot of time at the gym so his speed is quite remarkable. As a batter, he uses that speed to generate great pace between the wickets.

Of course, when his team is in the field, wicket keeper Dhoni can conserve his energy behind the stumps.

2. AB de Villiers (South Africa)

Another man who spent much of his career as a wicket keeper is AB De Villiers, who slots in at number two in this list. He is very much a modern batsman with his innovations, and he’s broken a number of records for fastest scores in all forms of cricket.

Part of his success clearly lies in the speed and acceleration that he gains between the wickets. He’s retired now but remains close to the game, so AB keeps his place on our list of current players.

3. Jonty Rhodes (South Africa)

Jonty Rhodes was like lightning in the field, and he had supreme pace between the wickets too. Like his compatriot AB De Villiers, Rhodes was another innovative batter who was one of the first to use some of the expansive shots that have made their way into the modern game.

It’s no exaggeration to say that Rhodes’ pace was close to that of an international sprinter, and he was one of those players who revolutionized the way batsmen approached their innings.

4. Ravindra Jadeja (India)

Another brilliant all rounder, India’s Ravindra Jadeja is primarily known as a left arm spinner who makes useful runs with the bat. That’s a little unfair when you consider that he’s made a test century and has scored triple hundreds in the Ranji Trophy.

Jadeja uses his lightning speed between the wickets to maximise his run scoring and is considered to be one of the most agile players in the Indian international squad.

5. Virat Kohli (India)

Of those players who is still involved at an international level, India’s Virat Kohli is considered to be the fastest of them all. He is a captain who likes to lead by example with the bat and, as part of that ethos, Kohli is incredibly fast between the wickets.

He’s always looking to put pressure on the fielding side by running the first one quickly and turning instantly with a view to adding a second. In modern day limited overs cricket, every run counts, and it’s always a bonus to have the speedy Virat Kohli in your team.

6. David Warner (Australia)

Left handed batsman David Warner is known for his explosive hitting, and that can mean that his speed between the wickets is frequently overlooked. It’s often said that he is one of the best judges of a run and will seldom be involved in a mix up with his batting partner. If there is any danger of a run out, his speed will likely negate the threat.

That judgement is a useful quality to have on the vast cricket fields in Australia. He makes big runs and, while that power hitting is a massive part of his game, Warner’s pace between the wickets helps to maximise those high individual scores.

7. Mohammad Kaif (India)

India have been one of the most effective forces in limited overs cricket, and that could be down to the speed of their batsmen. Another Indian entry on this list is Mohammad Kaif, who retired from cricket in 2017 and he leaves the game with the reputation of being one of the fastest cricketers of all time.

Kaif is credited with being a man who set a new standard in terms of athleticism in the field and between the wickets. He may not have been the most talented cricketer of his generation, but he played 138 times for India, and that speed helped to make him something of a one day specialist.

8. Brendon McCullum (New Zealand)

Like Virat Kohli, New Zealand’s Brendon McCullum was another captain who liked to lead by example. He began his career as a wicket keeper but, when he went into the outfield later on, he could be lightning fast around the boundary.

McCullum was another power hitter who could comfortably clear the boundary in all forms of the game but his high scores were boosted by his incredible speed between the wickets.

9. Ricky Ponting (Australia)

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting was such a great batsman that it’s easy to forget that he was one of the fastest cover fielders in cricket. In fact, when he was struggling for runs in the early stages of his international career, it was that speed that helped him keep his place in the side.

When batting, he could also accelerate between the wickets, and that assisted Ponting’s incredible record of 27,483 international runs.

10. Martin Guptill (New Zealand)

Martin Guptill is one of the fastest men around the boundary in world cricket. He can often be found at long on as he has a safe pair of hands, but he can also keep the runs down when the opposition keeps the ball on the ground.

He brings that approach to speed across into his batting, and that’s why Guptill was one of the batsmen chosen to face the Super Over in the 2019 World Cup final against England. He couldn’t quite get his team across the line there, but he remains one of the fastest men between the wickets.

Also-Rans: Other Fast Runners Between the Wickets

While these men make up the top ten of fastest runners in world cricket, there are many others who are close to breaking into the elite list. In no particular order, the supplementary list would include:

• Kane Williamson
• Kieron Pollard
• Inzamam ul Haq
• Steve Smith
• JP Duminy
• Robin Singh
• Michael Bevan
• Mahela Jayawardena
• Andrew Symonds
• Herschelle Gibbs
• Dwayne Bravo

Each of them has played an important role, both in the field and between the wickets where their speed can change a match in an instant.

If you are an amateur or club cricketer, you should also try to maximise your runs by being as fast as possible between the wickets.

What is the Benefit of Being a Fast Runner in Cricket?

If you are naturally fast, you will have an advantage in all three of cricket’s main disciplines. If you want to bowl quickly, that extra speed will help with your run up into the crease, and the momentum will help you to deliver a faster ball. Spinners also need some momentum, even if the ball is coming down at a slower pace.

In the field, pace and acceleration will help you get to the ball more quickly. If you’re in the ring saving a single, batters will learn that you have that extra pace, and they won’t take any risks when running between the wickets. Your speed can also help you catch up with the ball as it’s hit past the infield and is making its way towards the boundary.

Batters will also benefit from having pace as they spend a lot of their time running between the wickets. That speed could help them turn a single into two runs.

Many games, especially those in limited overs cricket, are won by fine margins. The 2019 World Cup final, which finished with scores tied after a super over, is a great example. An extra run earned or saved during the main part of the match could have changed the destiny of that game.

Being a fast runner will, therefore have advantages in cricket, and whatever your role is in the side, that pace can make a real difference.

Are Today’s Cricketers Faster Than Their Predecessors?

While there are no official measurements available, it’s probably safe to assume that today’s cricketers are much faster than those of the past. You only have to watch old footage of old test matches to make that conclusion.

Fielders rarely dived to stop the ball or slide to prevent it from going over the boundary. They were more likely to conserve energy and stick a boot down. Running between the wickets was also more leisurely than it is today. Pace bowlers might argue that they were just as fast into the crease, and they may have a point. Unfortunately, with no accurate measurements, we can’t back up or refute those claims. 

In the same way that athletes record faster speeds today than in the past, we can safely claim that today’s cricketers are also quicker than their predecessors. 

Conclusion: The Need For Speed

While most of us can never hope to be as fast, or as talented, as the players on this list, adding some extra pace can help with any aspect of your game. Sprinting across the field to save a boundary can be vital in terms of keeping the opposition’s runs down. While your batting, some extra pace could help turn a potential run out situation into a comfortable single.

Then we have bowlers and the extra pace they generate through the speed of their run up. It can all make a difference to your game, so look at training and exercises that could help you gain some additional yards.

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Who has Bowled the Slowest Ball in Cricket History?

The slowest ball in the history of cricket was delivered by Leigh Kasperek of New Zealand in 2017.

Playing in a match against Australia, Kasperek was clocked at just 38 kph.

Top 10 Slowest Balls in Cricket History

Chris Cairns in 1999

This is one of the most memorable cases of a batsman being completely deceived by a slower delivery. In the England v New Zealand series of 1999, Chris Read ducks a slow ball from Chris Cairns, believing it to be a beamer.

Late dip on the ball saw it drop and crash into Read’s stumps.

Aaqib Javed in 1992

Pakistan won the 1992 World Cup in Australia, and this brilliant slower ball from Aaqib Javed helped them to overcome New Zealand in the semi final. Mark Greatbatch was the batsman in question, and he was in great form coming into this game.

Greatbatch was well placed in this match, and he’d already hit Aaqib and Wasim Akram for maximums. Javed tried the slower ball which hit the batsman on the pad, but the Kiwi was outside the line. When he attempted it again, Greatbatch advanced down the track but was bowled by a brilliant slow leg cutter as he misjudged the flight.

Shoaib Akhtar in 2005

He’s the man who sent down the fastest recorded ball in cricket history, so it would have been a huge surprise whenever Shoaib Akhtar reduced his pace. He sent down a number of slower balls that could have been included here, but the best of them came in 2005 against England.

England skipper Michael Vaughan completely misread a slow yorker from Shoaib and jabbed an easy catch back to the bowler.

Jasprit Bumrah in 2018

He’s one of India’s fastest ever bowlers, so good luck to whoever plays Jasprit Bumrah when he drops his pace. The delivery under the spotlight here was bowled to Shaun Marsh in 2018, and it saw the seamer drop down to a recorded 113 kph.

That’s a considerable drop from his average of 140 kph. It completely confused the batsman, who was out plumb LBW in front of the stumps.

Dwayne Bravo in 2006

Not only was this a brilliant slower ball, it was vitally important in terms of the match. The West Indies were playing India in an ODI in 2006, and some brilliant batting from Yuvraj Singh had taken his team to the brink of victory.

Yuvraj was facing Dwayne Bravo, with India needing two to win from three balls with one wicket left. Bravo dropped his pace to 117 kph, and Yuvraj misjudged it as the slow yorker drifted into leg stump.

Majid Haq in 2015

Back in 2015, Scotland’s off spinner Majid Haq bowled the slowest ball in the history of men’s cricket. It was timed at just 41.6mph.

This wasn’t a deliberate slower ball like most of those on this list. This is the type of speed that Majid regularly bowls at.

Naved-ul-Hasan in 2004

When you were up against Virender Sehwag, you had to try all the tricks to dismiss one of the most destructive batters in world cricket. In this match, Sehwag enjoyed the upper hand early on as he raced to 82 runs from 56 deliveries.

Naved-ul-Hasan received some punishment and he was also struggling to keep his front foot behind the line. It was the first game in a five-match ODI series between Indian and Pakistan, and something needed to happen.

Naved sent down a slow yorker, which deceived the batter and hit leg stump. However, the fact that the bowler had conceded 38 runs from just 2.1 overs suggests that Sehwag had won the overall battle before losing his wicket.

Brett Lee in 2005

Australia’s Brett Lee was another bowler capable of producing deliveries in the late 90s mph. So, when he dropped his pace considerably, it could be difficult to adjust. On this occasion, his victim was none other than the great Brian Lara.

Lara had a good record against the Aussies, and he looked in control in the first innings of this test match as he moved into the 30s. Lee was having no luck with his regular pace, so he tried a much slower ball at 118 kph. Lara was foxed as the ball struck the pads, and he was given out LBW.

Steve Harmison in 2005

This is one piece of footage that I can watch over and over again. It happened in the unforgettable Edgbaston test of the 2005 Ashes series, and it looked to have won England the game at the time.

Late on Saturday evening, a perfect slow off cutter from Steve Harmison completely deceives Michael Clarke and crashes into his off stump.

Simon O’Donnell in 1990

From what I remember, Australia’s Simon O’Donnell was one of the first bowlers to use a lot of variation in One Day Cricket. There were so many displays of fine, slow ball bowling, but a great set of examples from O’Donnell can be seen in the ODI series between Australia and New Zealand in 1990.

Who are the Slowest Bowlers in a Cricket Team?

Traditionally, the spinners are the slowest bowlers in any team. In order for the cricket ball to grip and turn, it needs to have more revolutions as it leaves the bowler’s hand. To do this effectively, the release must be at a slower speed.

On occasions, a fast bowler’s slower ball may be sent down at a similar pace to an off or leg spinner’s standard delivery. In general, however, the spinners deliver the slowest balls in any cricket match.

Why Would a Faster Bowler Deliver a Slower Ball?

It’s all about deception: When a batter is standing in their crease, about to face a delivery from a fast bowler, they are expecting a certain speed. Average fast bowlers deliver at around 80 mph, while the real speed merchants can hit 90 mph and beyond.

When you’re facing those bowlers, a slower ball can confuse your senses as it comes down the pitch. The objective for the bowler is for the batter to play their shot too early, thus increasing the chances of taking a wicket.

Bowlers use different techniques to deliver the slower ball. These can come from the back of the hand, or they may run their fingers down the side of the ball. On occasions, they may just slow their arm down during the delivery process. 

Conclusion

The figures on this list need to be put into some context. Clearly, the likes of Steve Harmison, Jasprit Bumrah and Brett Lee wouldn’t have bowled at slow speeds on a regular basis. These are some of the fastest men in the history of the game.

What we are looking at here is the best slow ball tactics in game situations. When batters are set, they are not expecting such a dramatic drop in pace, and that’s why a good proportion of those slower balls go on to take wickets.

Included in the list are just two spinners who would regularly bowl at slower speeds. Moving forward, it would be interesting to take a closer look at these bowlers and see what pace they actually deliver at. It’s also important for a slower bowler to use some variation, so we can also look at spinners who increase their pace. I can remember the great Shane Warne bowling the occasional bouncer, and it would be interesting to see what kind of speed that went down at.

As for the names included in this round up, I personally don’t think it’s a coincidence that the list here includes some of the fastest bowlers in the game. The bigger the drop in pace, the better the chances of taking wickets and that’s why the occasional slow ball has been so effective for them.

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How many International Cricket Stadiums are there in Afghanistan?

Eleven stadiums are available to host international cricket in Afghanistan. There is one more site currently under construction, which would therefore take that figure to 12.

Not all of those grounds would host matches on a regular basis, but there are ten venues currently available in 2025.

Why has India been made a Home Venue for the Afghanistan Cricket Team?

Due to security issues in their own country, the Afghanistan cricket team have been forced to play their home international matches outside of their own country. Safety concerns mean that overseas teams are not comfortable with touring the country at the moment.

India, along with other countries such as Sri Lanka, and various grounds in the UAE, have therefore provided home venues for the Afghanistan national team in the recent past. This situation could well continue, but the side also plays a large proportion of their matches as official away games around the cricketing world.

Main Grounds in Afghanistan

Ghazi Amanullah International Cricket Stadium in Ghazi Amanullah Town, Jalalabad

Among the main grounds in Afghanistan is the Ghazi Amanullah International Cricket Stadium, which was opened in 2008. It has a capacity of 14,000 and is well equipped to cope with international matches.

That capacity makes it the second largest cricket ground in the country and it’s home to the Nangarhar Province domestic team.

Kandahar International Cricket Stadium in Kandahar

Set to offer a capacity of 14,000 when it’s fully completed, there will be more than enough room for the Kandahar International Cricket Stadium to host major matches. The Kandahar Province side play here as do the Boost Defenders.

The completion of a brand new stadium in this part of the country, came with the intention of making cricket more accessible and popular in Southern Afghanistan. As of 2025, the capacity of the Kandahar Stadiums sits at 9,000, but there is scope to increase this to the full 14,000 in the future.

Kabul National Cricket Stadium in Kabul

Opened in 2011, the Kabul National Cricket Stadium has a more modest capacity of 6,000, but that figure would still be sufficient to accommodate minor international games.

It has the benefit of being located in the capital and largest city within the country, and that would help it to become a regular on the circuit. In domestic tournaments, the Kabul National Cricket Stadium is home to the Kabul Eagles.

Khost City Stadium in Khost

The Khost City Stadium opened in 2011, and cricket forms just a part of the overall package here. A multi-sport facility, it’s also home to football, volleyball, basketball, and more.

With a top capacity of 18,000 when the ground is complete, it should be a regular option for international cricket when the time is right.

Kunduz Cricket Stadium in Kunduz

When I initially wrote this article in 2023, the Kunduz Cricket Stadium was still under construction. Two years on, the facility is fully operational with the first official game having been played here in 2024.

Kunduz is a city in Northern Afghanistan, and it finally gained a top class cricket stadium when that work finished ahead of the 2024 season. The Kunduz Cricket Stadium now provides a regular venue for domestic teams and maybe one day the national side will play here.

Little was known about the ground back in 2023, and unconfirmed reports two years later suggest that the capacity is a modest 6,000. It’s hoped that its opening will increase the options for the national team whenever it becomes possible to host touring sides in Afghanistan.

Stadiums Under Construction

Balkh Cricket Stadium in Mazar-i-Sharif

Afghanistan has a number of stadiums under construction as it hopes to host international cricket in the future. One of these is the Balkh Cricket Stadium in the city of Mazar and it should prove to be a seriously impressive location.

The developers secured funding from India and also from the United States Agency for International Development, in order to get their project off the ground.

While the work continues, early reports suggest that there will be an overall capacity of 4,000 here. Those are relatively modest numbers, so it may be the case that the Balkh Stadium will host minor internationals, along with those at junior level.

Final Thoughts

Some things haven’t changed since this article first appeared in 2023. The main hope here is that it will be safe for international teams to travel to Afghanistan in the future. It could be some time before we see that happening but, when the time is right, there is no shortage of top stadiums that could accommodate international cricket.

We’ve already seen that Afghanistan teams can compete at a high level, particularly in the shorter forms of cricket. The leg spinner Rashid Khan is their best known player, and he is one of a number of Afghan cricketers to have played for overseas franchise teams.

They are a developing side, but one that is improving on a consistent basis, and they have already enjoyed some success on the world stage. While the dream of playing home games in their own country seems a long way off right now, it’s hoped that these impressive Afghanistan stadiums will be able to host regular international cricket at some point in the future.

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15 Best Catches in Cricket History

1. Ben Stokes vs South Africa (ICC Cricket World Cup 2019)

The fielder, himself, admitted that he was a little out of position as South Africa’s Andile Phehlukwayo struck the ball to the mid-wicket boundary.

Ben Stokes backpedaled and flew horizontally, plucking the catch from the air, dismissing the batter, and saving a certain six.

2. Paul Collingwood vs Australia (ODI NatWest Series, 2005)

One handed, flying catches at backward point were Paul Collingwood’s speciality, and this take against Australia is his best in my opinion.

Matthew Hayden was Australia’s unfortunate batsman as he struck the ball firmly through the off side only for Collingwood to leap like a salmon and pluck the catch from thin air.

3. Kieron Pollard vs Australia (ODI Series, 2013)

Off the bowling of Sunil Narine, Glenn Maxwell smashes the ball to the square leg boundary, and it seems like a certain six.

Pollard intervenes, taking the ball high to his left as the ball travels hard and low.

4. Adam Gilchrist vs England (2001 Ashes)

Adam Gilchrist’s catch in the 2001 Ashes series showed great agility and awareness. Marcus Trescothick swept a Shane Warne delivery into the ankle of short leg and, while most were watching the fielder in front of the wicket, keeper Gilchrist dived to claim the take.

5. Jonty Rhodes vs England (ICC Cricket World Cup 1999)

Jonty Rhodes’ catch that made it into the top 15 came in the 1999 World Cup, and I was actually there at the Oval to see it.

Bowler Lance Klusener had sent down a short delivery, and Robert Croft felt that he’d connected well enough. However, the athletic brilliance of Rhodes claimed the ball at full stretch as the South Africans dominated.

6. Kieron Pollard vs Rajasthan Royals (IPL 2014)

A Mumbai Indians regular, Pollard took a low and flat hit from Rajasthan’s Kevon Cooper, but his momentum was taking him over the boundary.

Quick thinking was required as Pollard flipped the ball in the air and crossed back over to complete the take. Relay catches are always spectacular, but this was one of the best of all time.

7. Yuvraj Singh vs South Africa (Semi-Final, Champions Trophy 2002)

Zaheer Khan forced South Africa’s Graeme Smith into playing a lofted drive and Yuvraj dived low to his right to claim it at backward point.

Outsiders for the win, the catch seemed to inspire India, who went through to the final.

8. Trent Boult vs West Indies (Windsor Park, 2014)

New Zealand’s Trent Boult is a brilliant fielder, particularly off his own bowling, and he could have had a number of entries on this list.

Kieron Pollard must have thought that he’d hit a definite six over midwicket only for Boult to leap, parry the ball in the air as it was crossing the line, before diving full length to complete the catch.

9. Mohammad Kaif Vs Pakistan (1st ODI, Karachi, 2004)

Not only was this a brilliant catch, it was also a match winner. With Pakistan needing just ten runs off eight balls, Shoaib Malik scooped the ball in the air before Kaif ran in from long on and caught it at full stretch.

India went on to win by five runs as the innings collapsed.

10. David Hussey vs Kolkata Knight Riders (IPL 2010)

A great individual effort, Hussey’s catch is similar to others, in the sense that he had to stop himself going over the boundary, but this is the best of its type in my opinion.

Firstly, he had to stop a high, flat hit. Then he parried it back towards the field of play before diving full length to complete the grab.

11. Adam Dale vs New South Wales (1997/98)

It’s not a name that many will have heard of, and this catch by Adam Dale was probably the highlight of a modest career.

What’s really remarkable about this grab is the ball’s trajectory. As the New South Wales’ batsman plays a lofted drive, the ball dips sharply as Dale dives to his right to claim a stunner.

12. Ravindra Jadeja vs New Zealand (2014, 1st test in Auckland)

We all know that Ravindra Jadeja is one of India’s best fielders, but this catch off the bowling of Ishant Sharma is surely his best.

New Zealand’s Brendon McCullum smashes the ball to the long on boundary where Jadeja, at full stretch, stops it, throws it back, and runs back over the line to complete an amazing effort.

13. Angelo Mathews vs Australia (2nd T20, 2011)

Another catch that required the fielder to toss the ball back in the air as he went towards the boundary rope, this is often described as Sri Lanka’s greatest ever.

David Warner was the unfortunate victim as Angelo Mathews showed that he had great agility despite his big frame.

14. Dinesh Karthik vs South Africa (T20 World Cup, 2007)

The very first edition of the T20 World Cup was lit up by this brilliant catch. Usually a wicket keeper, Karthik found himself at a wide second slip as RP Singh took Graeme Smith’s edge.

As the ball flew towards third man, Karthik flung himself high and wide to claim an unbelievable catch. See for yourself starting from 5:10 below.

15. Ricky Ponting vs Delhi Daredevils (IPL 2013)

Ricky Ponting was a very reliable slip fielder but this brilliant effort was taken at mid off.

As the bowler hits the batsman’s leading edge, the ball travels in the air with Ponting, playing for Mumbai Indians, leaping to grab it, inches off the turf.

Most Catches in ODI as a Fielder

The previous list of unbelievable catches doesn’t include those same names you will see if you head over to the most catches in ODI as a fielder. These players are generally much more reliable fielders than some of the cricketers listed above.

Like many articles contained within this website, this feature appeared in 2021. It didn’t seem fair to take out any of the stunning efforts on the list, so I’ve kept them all in, with videos where available, so you can all enjoy them.

Naturally, in the four years since this article was first published, there have been some amazing efforts, and each of the following could have been contenders for the Top 15.

Glenn Phillips: New Zealand v India, Champions Trophy Final 2025

New Zealand’s Glenn Phillips has to be one of the world’s best fielders at backward point. There are other catches of his that we could have included, but this one makes the list on the basis that it came in a final.

Against India, and with the Champions Trophy on the line, the dangerous Shubman Gill looked to smash Mitchell Santner over mid off, but Phillips lept high above his head to take an outrageous one-handed catch. The speed of the shot and the fielder’s incredible body position help to make this one of the greatest catches of all time.

Joe Root: England Vs Australia 2023

Like Glenn Phillips, there are other contenders, but it’s fitting to include this catch. By claiming the grab, Joe Root set a new record for catches in tests by an English outfielder.

We’re used to seeing Root at slip, but for this catch, he was stationed at short leg. Stuart Broad was the bowler with Travis Head on strike. Broad dug the ball in short and, as Head prodded the ball behind square leg, Root showed stunning reflexes to dive full length and claim the catch one-handed.

There will be more contenders and I could have easily doubled this list. These are, however, my favourites, and the original 15 catches from 2021 should still be included. If you think I’ve missed out some obvious choices, feel free to get in touch and tell us about your own favourite catch.

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12 Greatest Batsmen in T20 History

1. Chris Gayle

The man with the highest individual score in T20 cricket is the brilliant West Indian Chris Gayle. With a best of 175 in this format, it’s no surprise that the Universe Boss is at the top of the list.

That incredible knock, made for Royal Challengers Bangalore against the Pune Warriors at the IPL in 2013, is just one of a number of T20 records that Gayle holds. The powerful left hander has scored no fewer than 22 T20 hundreds and is the first player to have hit more than 1,000 sixes in this format.

While there are some dangerous batters on this list, Chris Gayle’s returns in the shortest form make him the number one by some distance.

2. David Warner

A powerful player in all three formats, David Warner’s statistics are second only to those of Chris Gayle in the T20 form of cricket. As he entered the 2025 IPL, the Australian left hander had scored eight hundreds in T20s and was reaching a strike rate in excess of 140.

He may not be the most consistent player on this list, but Warner has a tendency to make big runs when he is in form. His highest score is 135, and that impressive list of eight T20 centuries underlines that fact. He may be approaching his late-30s, but David Warner should remain an effective T20 player for a couple more years at least.

3. Virat Kohli

The most reliable of India’s T20 batsmen over the years, Virat Kohli tends to excel in the IPL with his Royal Challengers Bangalore franchise. Back in 2016, he came close to scoring 1,000 runs in an IPL season and, while he ultimately fell short, his final tally of 973 remains a record.

Kohli has also been prolific at international level and his contributions have helped India become a real force in T20s. At the start of the 2025 Indian Premier League, Virat Kohli had made nine T20 centuries with a high score of 122 not out. His strike rate of 134 is relatively modest but his average, in excess of 40, is exceptional and it proves why he is such a valuable batter.

4. AB De Villiers

He was known as Mr 360 for his ability to hit shots all around the wicket, and that’s a brilliant quality to have. South Africa’s AB De Villiers was a force in all forms of the game, and he featured for a number of global franchise teams in a long career.

When he retired from professional cricket, De Villiers had a strike rate in T20s of 150.13, and those are seriously good numbers. He averaged 37.24 and recorded five centuries with a best of 133 not out. ABD scored at a rapid rate and he appears on lists for fastest 50s and tons in both limited overs formats.

5. Brendon McCullum

Brendon McCullum was one of the first batsmen to score at a high tempo in all forms of the game. He was the first player from New Zealand to hit a triple hundred in test cricket, but he will mostly be remembered for his contributions in T20.

McCullum holds another ‘first’ and, in the IPL’s inaugural season of 2008, he scored the first century in the history of the tournament. His 158 for Kolkata Knight Riders against Royal Challengers Bangalore remained a high-scoring record for the competition until Chris Gayle passed it five years later.

Brendon McCullum actually made an identical score of 158, playing for Warwickshire in 2015. In total, the Kiwi made seven centuries in this form of the game, and he made those runs at an impressive strike rate of 136.49.

6. Kieron Pollard

Kieron Pollard announced his retirement from international cricket in April 2022, and it was a surprise to hear that news in a T20 World Cup year. That would certainly be a loss for the West Indian team, but we can hope to see Pollard feature in franchise cricket for a few more years.

He’s classed as an all-rounder, but Kieron Pollard makes the most impact with a bat in his hand. As he announced his international retirement, he had made 1569 T20i runs at a strike rate of 135.14.

His numbers improve considerably in the domestic game. Overall, Pollard’s strike rate lifts above 150 and his highest score of 104 came in 2018 when he was playing for St Lucia Stars against Barbados Tridents in the Caribbean Premier League.

7. Dawid Malan

He might not be the most natural T20 player. Dawid Malan is more of a traditional stroke player rather than an innovator, but previous ICC rankings have suggested that he’s one of the best T20 batters of recent years.

Malan is one of only five players to have hit a T20 hundred for England, and he also has an unbeaten 99 in the international format. It’s perceived that he scores too slowly at times but, while his overall strike rate at around 129 may be modest, Malan has an impressive five centuries in T20s with a best of 117. Since writing this article in 2022, Dawid Malan has retired from international cricket, but he should remain in the franchise game for a while yet.

8. Kevin Pietersen

T20 cricket is evolving all the time, so it’s a testament to Kevin Pietersen’s ability that he remains on this list. He last played a T20 match in 2018 but wasn’t featuring regularly in the game at that point.

Despite being retired, his batting numbers are so impressive that he will be hard to shift from his number eight slot. Pietersen’s average in T20 international matches sits at 37.93, and that’s the highest of anyone else mentioned here.

Strike rates are considered to be more important, and KP stacks up well here too, with a mighty figure of 141.51. Overall, Kevin Pietersen made 5695 T20 runs with three centuries and a best of 115.

9. Aaron Finch

Australia’s Aaron Finch currently holds the record for the highest international T20 individual score. His 172 made against Zimbabwe in 2018 just fell short of Chris Gayle’s overall record, and this was the second time Finch had passed 150.

Back in 2013, Finch scored 156 in a T20i against England. He has an impressive eight centuries in this format and he was one the most destructive batters at international and domestic levels.

10. Andre Russell

The man known as Dre Russ is, perhaps, the most destructive ‘death overs’ batsman in world cricket. In the T20 format, Andre Russell will often come in with less than ten overs left, but that doesn’t prevent him from posting some high individual scores.

Russell has compiled two centuries in this form of cricket, and he has a highest score of 121. His average at around 27 may be modest but his strike rate, which is close to 170, is simply phenomenal. As a batter who scores quickly at the final stages of an innings, he’s arguably the best of his kind.

11. Alex Hales

Alex Hales may never feature for England again, but he has already made his mark at international level. The Nottinghamshire opener made a 99 early on in his England career before becoming the first English batsman to score a century in a T20i.

His 116 against Sri Lanka in 2014 remained a national record for nine years, and it’s one of seven hundreds that Hales has scored in this format up to March 2025. While he may have retired from international cricket, his strike rate in excess of 145 means that Alex Hales will continue to feature in franchise T20 competitions for many years to come.

12. Glenn Maxwell

The man known as the Big Show also likes to deal in big T20 scores. At the start of 2022, Glenn Maxwell made an unbeaten 154 playing for the Melbourne Stars against the Hobart Hurricanes to complete the highest individual score in the Big Bash.

Maxwell also currently holds Australia’s third highest score in this format. Against Sri Lanka in 2016, he hit an undefeated 145 from just 65 deliveries. As of March 2025, Glenn Maxwell has seven centuries in T20s and his strike rate of 154 is a seriously impressive one.

How Did We Calculate the List of Best T20 Batsmen?

You might have been expecting to see other names in this roundup so let me explain how the list is compiled.

ICC Rankings

There are a number of factors used in determining the names on this list. The ICC rankings are an excellent gauge of a player’s capabilities, and the ratings have played a part in this analysis.

Historic rankings have been used to cover a batter throughout their career. It’s not just about where they are in the current ICC rankings, they have to have returned consistently strong stats if they are to be included here.

Player Role

A player’s role in the team has also helped to determine who has made the final cut. We have a good mix in this section of power hitters who can come in at the top of the order and take advantage of the fielding restrictions in the opening six overs.

Behind them, there are batters who are involved in the middle order, accumulating runs from overs 6 to 14 before upping the tempo in the final six.

Others, most notably Andre Russell, don’t often feature until those death overs get underway. It takes a different kind of batsman to accelerate from a standing start at this late stage of an innings and those qualities also need to be taken into account.

Performance

This is an obvious factor to take into account. A player’s performance over the course of their T20 career should determine their position on this list. Key statistics to assess include strike rate, batting average, totals runs scored and highest score.

Also, as we have seen, a number of the players on this list have the ability to turn those centuries into big ‘Daddy Hundreds‘.

Style

There is a mix of styles in here, too. A player such as Glenn Maxwell looks to hit every ball for six. It’s a strategy that he openly admits to and while he’s not the most consistent player on this list, it’s no coincidence that he’s made some of the biggest scores in T20 cricket.

In contrast, we have a batter such as Dawid Malan who prefers a more cautious approach at the start of his innings. As the game develops and he gets his eye in, Malan can score more quickly in the later overs.

Virat Kohli may be similar in style to Malan, while Alex Hales would be a better comparison with Glenn Maxwell. If you’re compiling a team or a list of this kind, a mix of styles is important.

Reputation

Reputation may not count for everything, but it’s another point to consider. When a team sees any of these players step up to the crease, they know that this is a crucial time of the game.

If they dismiss the batter early, the bowling side has an advantage but, if that man stays at the wicket for ten overs or more, the game may well be gone.

Each of the batters on this list has backed up their reputation with seriously good statistics, but that presence at the crease is another important factor to take into account.

Up and Coming T20 Stars

Since I first wrote this list in 2022, some of these players have moved on, while others have risen up the rankings. Here are some of the highest rated T20 batters in 2025, who could join this list very soon.

Heinrich Klaasen

South Africa’s Heinrich Klaasen is not highly placed in the ICC T20 rankings at the time of writing, but there’s no doubting his quality. He’s one of the first picks among franchise teams around the world, and the selectors realise that the rankings don’t always tell the full story.

Klaasen has two centuries in T20s, with a best of 104, and an excellent strike rate that comes close to 150.

Phil Salt

Wicket Keeper / Batsman Phil Salt overtook Alex Hales to post England’s highest score in the T20 format when he made 119 against the West Indies in December 2023. All three of his T20 centuries have come at international level where he has an exceptional strike rate in excess of 164.

Like most of his teammates, Salt had a poor ODI World Cup in 2025, but while he’s struggled in the longer format, there’s no doubt that he’s one of the most destructive batters in T20s right now.

Travis Head

The man at the top of the ICC T20 rankings at the time of writing is the Australian left hander Travis Head. Like a lot of Aussies, he’s comfortable in all formats of the game and he’s equally happy playing a destructive innings in tests and T20s.

As he hit the top of those ICC rankings, Travis Head had two centuries in the format, with a best of 102, and a strike rate in T20is in excess of 160.

Suryakumar Yadav

He’s one of the most exciting talents in cricket right now, and I just couldn’t leave out Suryakumar Yadav. The man known as SKY sits at number five in the ICC T20 rankings, and has the quality to go right to the very top.

As of March 2025, Suryakumar had hit six centuries in T20s and his strike rate of 167.07 in T20s is phenomenal.

The post 12 Best T20 Batsmen of all time – Ranking the Greatest Cricketers appeared first on Its Only Cricket.

About the Format

Six teams take part in the competition which traditionally runs from the end of August through the whole of September and into early October.

The CPL consists of an initial group stage, which is then followed by a series of knockout games. In the opening phase, all sides will play each other twice. At the end of this sequence, the four best performing teams will progress to the next round.

There now follows a series of playoffs which are similar to the IPL and other major T20 competitions around the world. First up is a qualifier between the first and second placed teams with the winner going straight through to the final.

Next we have an eliminator between the third and fourth placed sides. The loser of that game goes home while the winner progresses to a second qualifier. In that second qualifier, they will face the loser of qualifier 1. The winner of this final playoff game will then progress to the final.

It’s a complex system, but it’s one that we see in similar global tournaments, and it’s intended to give an advantage to the best teams from the group stages.

Teams List & Best Players

The six teams taking part in the Caribbean Premier League are:

• Barbados Royals
• Guyana Amazon Warriors
• Antigua and Barbuda Falcons
• St Kitts and Nevis Patriots
• Saint Lucia Kings
• Trinbago Knight Riders

Barbados Royals

The Barbados Royals were skippered for some years by South Africa’s David Miller. For the most recent edition of the competition in 2024, Miller was replaced by the big-hitting West Indian international Rovman Powell.  David Miller dropped into the ranks of the squad and he was joined by compatriots Keshav Maharaj and Quinton de Kock while the best domestic players include Jason Holder, Obed McCoy, Alick Athanaze and Rahkeem Cornwall.

Guyana Amazon Warriors

Captaining the Guyana Amazon Warriors in 2024 was the experienced South African Imran Tahir. He led an impressive roster of West Indian talent, which includes former skipper Shimron Hetmyer, plus Shamar Joseph, Romario Shepherd, Keemo Paul and Shai Hope.

Flying the flags for various international teams are Moeen Ali, Azam Khan, Dwaine Pretorius, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Tim Robinson and Nathan Sowter.

Antigua and Barbuda Falcons

Making their debut in the 2024 Caribbean Premier League, the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons replaced the outgoing Jamaica Tallawahs. The Falcons retained much of the Jamaican squad, including their skipper, Australian all-rounder Chris Green.

Green led a strong overseas roster that also included Sam Billings, Mohammad Amir, Imad Wasim and Fakhar Zaman. Among the domestic players who guided the Falcons to fifth place in the debut season were Brandon King, Roshon Primus and Hayden Walsh Jr.

St Kitts and Nevis Patriots

After former skipper Dwayne Bravo headed into retirement, the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots were forced to regroup. For the 2024 edition of the CPL, the team was led by Andre Fletcher, and he was joined by fellow West Indian internationals including Kyle Mayers, Evin Lewis, Sherfane Rutherford, Sheldon Cottrell, Joshua da Silva and Odean Smith.

Heading up a strong overseas contingent were Anrich Nortje, Nuwan Thushara, Sikandar Raza and Tabraiz Shamsi.

Saint Lucia Kings

The Saint Lucia Kings bring in an experienced overseas leader with Faf Du Plessis skippering the side. Tim Seifert, Noor Ahmad and David Wiese also flew in for the CPL in 2024, but the Kings may want to see more overseas reinforcements moving forward.

Local players looking to bring the title to Saint Lucia include Roston Chase, Johnson Charles and Alzarri Joseph.

Trinbago Knight Riders

Trinbago Knight Riders were led by Kieron Pollard in 2024, but as he approaches retirement, the all-rounder may be replaced for the next edition of the CPL. During his time in charge, Pollard led some exciting fellow West Indians, including Sunil Narine, Nicholas Pooran and Andre Russell.

Support in 2024 came from one of the strongest overseas contingents in the League, with Chris Jordan, Tim David, Jason Roy, and Josh Little all lining up for Trinbago .

Defunct CPL Teams

Jamaica Tallawahs

An exciting team with top players from the West Indies and overseas, the Jamaica Tallawahs competed in the CPL from 2013 to 2023. At the start of 2024, it was announced that the team would not compete in the competition moving forward, due to a lack of financial support from the Jamaican government. They are replaced in the 2024 edition by the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons.

The Tallawahs won the title three times, in 2013, 2016 and 2022. It seems strange that a nation that has produced so many brilliant West Indian cricketers is no longer sending a team to the CPL, but perhaps this situation will change in the future.

Antigua Hawksbills

The Antigua Hawksbills appeared for the first two seasons of the CPL in 2013 and 2014. The team struggled in those two campaigns, winning just three of its 16 group games and failing to make it through to the playoffs.

In 2015, several star names left the squad to join the Saint Kitts and Nevis franchise. The Hawksbills disbanded, although CPL cricket has now returned to the region in the shape of the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons.

Which Team has Won the CPL the Most Times?

The most successful team in the history of the CPL are the Trinbago Knight Riders. The team has won four titles since the 2013 inception and the 2024 tournament.

The Knight Riders’ first title came in 2015 and they claimed their fourth CPL trophy in the 2020 edition.

CPL Winners by Year

2024 Winner – Saint Lucia Kings

The Saint Lucia Kings won their first title at the end of the 2024 Caribbean League. In the final, they chased down a target of 138 set by Guyana Amazon Warriors with six wickets and 11 balls to spare. Roston Chase was named Player of the Match following an economical bowling spell and an unbeaten 39 in the run chase.

2023 Winner – Guyana Amazon Warriors

After finishing as runners up on five previous occasion, Guyana finally won their first CPL title in 2023. They successfully chased down a small target of 94 set by Trinbago Knight Riders in the final, and the team had a full six overs to spare. The Amazon Warriors lost just one wicket in that run chase, while four wickets from Dwaine Pretorious earned the South African the Player of the Match award.

2022 Winner – Jamaica Tallawahs

Jamaica claimed their third title in 2022 after beating the Barbados Royals by eight wickets in the final at the Providence Stadium in Guyana. The Royals had set a testing target of 161, but the Tallawahs got across the line after just 16.1 overs. Brandon Kings was the hero for the Tallawahs with his unbeaten 83 from just 50 balls.

2021 Winner – St Kitts & Nevis Patriots

St Kitts and Nevis Patriots beat the Saint Lucia Kings in the 2021 CPL final by a three-wicket margin. Kings batted first and posted 159/7 but the Patriots chased the total down from the very last ball of the match.

2020 Winner – Trinbago Knight Riders

Trinbago Knight Riders claimed their fourth CPL title in 2020. In the final, they took on St Lucia and won the game by eight wickets.

St Lucia batted first and were dismissed for 154. In reply, the Knight Riders chased down their target for the loss of two wickets and with 11 balls to spare.

2019 Winner – Barbados Tridents

Barbados Tridents won their second CPL title when they beat the Guyana Amazon Warriors by 27 runs in the 2019 final. Barbados made 171/6 from their 20 overs with Jonathan Carter hitting 50 at the death.

In reply, Guyana fell short, making 144/9 from their 20 overs.

2018 Winner – Trinbago Knight Riders

In 2018, Guyana were the beaten finalists again when they were outdone by Trinbago Knight Riders in the final.

The Amazon Warriors batted first and made 147/9. In their reply, the Knight Riders chased the target down, losing just two wickets along the way.

2017 Winner – Trinbago Knight Riders

The winners of the 2017 CPL were Trinbago Knight Riders who beat St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in the final. St Kitts batted first and made 135/6 from their 20 overs.

The Knight Riders struggled at times in their reply but finally chased down their target for the loss of seven wickets with one over to spare.

2016 Winner – Jamaica Tallawahs

The 2016 edition of the CPL saw the Jamaica Tallawahs win their second trophy. Guyana Amazon Warriors batted first in the final but were dismissed for just 93 on the final ball of their twenty overs.

The chase was easy for Jamaica who lost just one wicket as they passed their target with more than seven overs left.

2015 Winner – Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel

Trinbago won their first CPL trophy in 2015 as they beat Barbados in the final. Playing as Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel, they batted first and made 178/5 from their 20 overs.

In reply, Barbados fell short by 20 runs as they made 158/4.

2014 Winner – Barbados Tridents

The 2014 edition of the Caribbean Premier League was won by Barbados who beat Guyana Amazon Warriors in the final.

Weather affected the game and it needed the intervention of Duckworth Lewis. Barbados made 152/6 batting first and Guyana fell eight runs short of their revised target.

2013 Winner – Jamaica Tallawahs

The first ever winners of the CPL were the Jamaica Tallawahs. Guyana were the losing finalists as they made just 128/5.

It was a simple target for the Tallawahs who chased it down for the loss of three wickets with 15 balls to spare.

Conclusion

An interesting statistical point to note here is that Guyana Amazon Warriors have now been the losing CPL finalists on no fewer than six occasions. Using statistics up to and including 2024, they had made it all the way to the final in seven of the first 12 editions of the Caribbean Premier League.

The West Indies have produced some of the best limited overs players in the game so the CPL is bound to be an exciting tournament. It’s a quick and thrilling competition and I recommend tuning in.

The post Caribbean Premier League – CPL Teams and Winners List appeared first on Its Only Cricket.

Who is the Baap of the IPL?

The overall Baap of the IPL is MS Dhoni. According to most Indian cricket followers, Dhoni is the player most deserving of this award.

He’s been involved in the IPL since the start and his quality is another reason for his inclusion.

Why is Dhoni known as the Baap of the IPL?

There are a number of reasons why MS Dhoni is known as the Baap of the IPL. Firstly, he’s been involved in every single edition from 2008 to 2024. At the end of the 2024 Indian Premier League, he also held the record for number of appearances, having played in 264 games.

Dhoni has been very loyal to the Chennai Super Kings. Apart from the two years when CSK were suspended, this has been his only team. When we include his great leadership and his finishing qualities as a batter, few would argue that MSD is the all-round Baap.

Baap of IPL Captains – Rohit Sharma

While MS Dhoni is seen as the overall father of the IPL, there are other ‘Baaps’ in separate categories. In terms of captaincy, the general opinion is that Rohit Sharma deserves the award.

Mumbai Indians , along with CSK, are the joint most successful team in the history of the Indian Premier League with five titles between 2013 and 2020. Rohit was in charge of the team across all of those wins so he’s the skipper with the most IPL trophies behind him.

He is second in the list of most games won as a captain with only MS Dhoni ahead of him. He’s clearly been a great leader and that’s why Rohit Sharma is the Baap of IPL captains, even though he has now handed over the skipper role at Mumbai.

Baap of Batting – Virat Kohli

He already heads the list of leading run scorers in the IPL and Virat Kohli has more time to add to his total. He’s also set a number of Indian Premier League batting records and that’s why he’s considered to be the Baap in this category.

In the 2016 edition of the IPL, Kohli came so close to becoming the only man to score 1,000 runs in a season. His final total of 973 remains a record for a single edition.

The former Indian skipper is also second on the list for scores of 50 or more in the tournament with 55 as of 2024. He’s also overtaken Chris Gayle on the list of centuries: At the end of the 2024 edition of the IPL, Kohli had made eight centuries in the tournament.

On the back of that brilliant 2016 season and his consistency with the bat since 2008, Virat Kohli is surely the undisputed Baap of IPL batting.

Baap of Bowling – Jasprit Bumrah

He’s a more recent addition to the Indian Premier League, but Jasprit Bumrah has achieved a lot in a short period of time. Bumrah made his debut for Mumbai Indians in the 2013 IPL but, by the end of the 2024 edition, he had already taken 165 wickets in 133 games.

That haul currently puts Bumrah in the top ten of leading wicket takers in the competition. That’s a significant achievement for someone who didn’t play in the first five editions of the IPL and he will continue to climb that list in the years that follow.

Jasprit Bumrah’s best figures of 5/10 are also the best for anyone inside that top ten. He has exceptional averages and economy rates and, while it’s still fairly early days in his career, I would say that he has definitely earned the title of the Baap of bowling.

Baap of Consistency – Shikhar Dhawan

Consistency means delivering high quality performances every time and that’s why many say that Shikhar Dhawan has been the Baap in this category. He has moved around the franchises and, after featuring for Delhi in 2022, the left hander has now played for five different teams.

Dhawan has been effective for all of his franchises and he’s second only to Virat Kohli in the list of all-time leading IPL run scorers. He also set an impressive batting record in 2020 as the first man to score two consecutive centuries in the competition.

He’s made 51 scores of over 50 so far and, although he is set to retire from the game, I think he should keep on playing as he has much more to offer. At the end of the 2024 tournament, Dhawan was second on the list of IPL run scorers with 6769 runs, and that record puts him behind Virat Kohli.

Many big scores across his Indian Premier League career make Shikhar Dhawan the Baap of consistency.

Up and Coming Baap Contenders

As these great players head into retirement, there is the question of who will come along to replace them as the Baap of the IPL. Of the many top Indian youngsters in the league, two names stand out for me.

Rishabh Pant combines high class wicket keeping with fast run scoring. As we have seen, Baap translates as ‘father’ and while he is very young, we could almost call him the Baap of IPL wicket keepers.

The other player who impresses me is Yashavi Jaiswal. Once again, he’s just a young man at the time of writing, but his power hitting and high scoring could make him a future Baap.

Conclusion

This list is open to some debate. Some supporters will have different views, but this is what the majority have decided. MS Dhoni is one of the most popular cricketers in the game and it’s easy to see why he’s considered to be the overall ‘Baap’.

MSD could have also had a claim to the captaincy Baap. He’s led some successful Chennai Super Kings sides, and he comes a close second to Rohit Sharma at the Mumbai Indians.

It’s also hard to argue with the theory that Virat Kohli is the Baap of IPL batting. He is the leading run scorer and he had that incredible 973-run season in 2016.

The other names are, perhaps a little more debatable but Shikhar Dhawan has undoubtedly been consistent, and I’m fairly certain that Jasprit Bumrah will be the all-time IPL leading wicket taker by the time he finishes his career.

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Who is the Richest Cricketer in Pakistan?

The richest cricketer to have come out of Pakistan is Imran Khan. As a former President of the country, his net worth has been boosted by non-cricketing activities, but he still made an exceptional living from the game.

Using income figures across all of his activities, Imran Khan’s net worth is said to be $70 million.

Top Pakistanis Cricketers by Net Worth

Imran Khan

Imran Khan was the inspirational captain who led Pakistan to their biggest success in the game. He was in charge of the team when they won the World Cup in Australia in 1992, beating England in the final.

This was a superb triumph for a side that was close to being eliminated at the group stage. He played before the days of franchise cricket, but his playing career, plus his later years in politics, have all contributed to that net worth of $70 million.

Shahid Khan Afridi

It’s no real surprise to see Shahid Afridi included near the top of this list. The man known as Boom Boom had a power hitting approach to his batting, while his faster leg spin made him a genuine all rounder.

Afridi was in demand all over the world as a T20 franchise player, and he featured for a long time in England’s T20 Blast. He also featured for Pakistan in all three formats for many years, although he was most effective as a limited overs cricketer. His earnings from the game, along with many external endorsements, mean that Afridi’s net worth is reported to be around the $47 million mark.

Shoaib Malik

Shoaib Malik has enjoyed one of the longest careers of any cricketer, anywhere in the world. Even after the age of 40, he was still turning out for the Karachi Kings in the Pakistan Super League, and his ability with bat and ball meant he was in demand across the T20 landscape.

He’s another player who has featured in franchise leagues all over the world and he’s played in more than 400 international matches for Pakistan. All of that cricket, across more than 20 years, together with a number of outside endorsements, mean that Shoaib Malik’s net worth is stated to be $25 million.

Mohammad Hafeez

A player who enjoyed a lengthy career with Pakistan, Mohammad Hafeez slots in at number three on this list with a net worth of $23 million. He played for 18 years between 2003 and 2021, featuring in all three formats and eventually registering 392 matches for his country.

He may be seen as a test specialist, but Hafeez played for a number of T20 franchises, including the Kolkata Knight Riders in the first edition of the IPL. T2o provides the biggest boost to player salaries and that’s why he comfortably makes this list. That long career, coupled with some endorsements, has all helped to build Mohammad Hafeez’s $23 million fortune.

Azhar Ali

Azhar Ali has recently announced his retirement from international cricket, but he may yet feature for domestic teams moving forward. From his Pakistan debut in 2010, right through to his final game in 2022, Azhar played in 150 games for his country.

Strangely, he didn’t play a T20 international for Pakistan, but he did feature in some franchise cricket and he had a spell in England. All of these games over a long playing career, coupled with endorsements, means that Azhar Ali’s net worth stands at $15 million.

Saeed Anwar

He may have been retired for some time, but Saeed Anwar’s standing in Pakistan cricket means that he still enjoys a net worth of some $12 million. He played internationally for 14 years between 1989 and 2003 and featured in 55 tests and 247 One Day Internationals.

Many other cricketers go into coaching or even umpiring, but Saeed Anwar hasn’t done too much since leaving the game. Despite that, his overall net worth remains high.

Misbah Ul Haq

A prolific batter and a respected captain of Pakistan for many years, Misbah Ul Haq’s earning potential continued as he took up the role of the country’s full time head coach. He’s since moved on from that position, but all of that work has helped to build up an exceptional net worth of $9.8 million.

Misbah surely has the qualities needed to carry on in a coaching capacity and we can expect to see him in the dugouts around the world. His game may have been more suited to test cricket, but he was effective in T20s and he earned contracts with franchise teams including Rangpur Riders and the Barbados Tridents. All of that experience helped to increase his impressive income.

Fawad Alam

His awkward and patient batting style isn’t really designed for limited overs franchise cricket, but Fawad Alam has still made a significant living from the game. He made his international debut for Pakistan in 2009 and was famously left out in the wilderness before returning to the test team and making a number of centuries.

Fawad Alam’s franchise cricket has been limited to his native Pakistan, but he’s still managed to deliver an impressive net worth which is reported to be around $6 million.

Umar Akmal

He was a powerful hitter of a cricket ball and a useful wicket keeper who earned contracts with a number of T20 franchise teams. Umar Akmal played in the Caribbean Premier League, the Bangladesh Premier League and he also had a brief stint with Leicestershire in the County Championship.

Umar Akmal also plays extensively in the Pakistan Super League and he was capped 221 times by Pakistan across the three international formats. His international career may be over, but that hasn’t stopped Akmal from assembling an impressive net worth of $4.6 million.

Umar Gul

He was one of the best death bowlers in world cricket when he was at his peak, and that’s one reason why Umar Gul was a regular pick for T20 franchise teams. Along with a handful of other Pakistani players, he even featured in the first edition of the IPL, playing for the Kolkata Knight Riders in 2008.

Gul also played in all three formats for Pakistan and he featured in 237 international matches between 2003 and 2016. His appearances for various sides, along with external endorsements have all added up to a healthy total net worth of $2 million.

Final Thoughts

While Pakistani cricketers may be banned from the richest competition in the domestic game, they can clearly make an excellent living from the sport. The Indian Premier League has been out of bounds since 2009, but players in this country can still earn heavily from the Big Bash, the T20 Blast, the Caribbean Premier League and their own Pakistan Super League.

Most players on this list are T20 specialists, but there are some exceptions. Most have played international cricket in all three formats and that has allowed all of them to make appearances in some of the most important Twenty20 tournaments around the world.

Who will be the next Pakistani cricketer to break through and earn greater sums than the players on this list? Added interest in the Pakistan Super League and the availability of cricketers in most franchise leagues around the world, suggest that it won’t be long before we find out.

The post Richest Cricketers in Pakistan by Net Worth – Who is the Richest? appeared first on Its Only Cricket.

How do the BBL Finals Work?

The finals follows the regular season where each team plays each other  on a home and away basis. Each side plays their regular season matches and the top four teams in the table will then reach the four team finals series while the remaining four are eliminated from the tournament.

1. What is the Qualifier?

The Qualifier offers a straight route into the final of the Big Bash. Prior to the 2023/24 season, it would take place on the day after an elimination match.

Here, the side that finished at the very top of the table at the end of the season will take on the runners up. The winner of the Qualifier will go straight through to the final of the Big Bash for that campaign.

The losing team will remain in the tournament and receive a second chance to progress.

2. What is the Knockout?

In a tight schedule, the Knockout game will generally follow on the day after the Qualifier. Effectively, this is a second elimination match with the losing team set to depart the competition. The teams taking part are the third placed team in the season, together with the side that finished in fourth place.

Once the knockout has been completed, the team who wins progresses to the next stage of the finals series. The losing team is now eliminated from the competition and has to wait until the following year for another chance of winning the title.

3. What is the Challenger?

There will usually be a gap of around three days before the last game of this playoff series takes place. It is the Challenger and is so called because it gives us the identity of the team who will progress to challenge the side who has already made it through to the final.

The teams taking part are those that have appeared in previous games and have yet to be eliminated from the competition. Therefore, the Challenger takes place between the loser of the Qualifier and the winner of the Knockout.

This is a ‘winner takes all’ game. The winning team progresses to the BBL final while the losers are knocked out of the competition.

4. The Final

The very last game of the BBL season is the final itself. The teams that progressed through this format now face off for the right to lift the trophy.

Did The Big Bash Have an Eliminator?

The Eliminator was a match between the fourth placed team and the side that finished in fifth place from the eight teams competing in the regular season. It was removed from the finals format at the end of the 2022/23 Big Bash season.

The regular T20 match rules applied with the potential for a Super Over if the scores were tied at the end of the game.

In the Eliminator, the title of the match gives us a clue as to what to expect. Whichever team lost that game would be eliminated from the Big Bash for that season while the winner would remain in the competition and move on to the next phase.

Is This a Fair System?

In any competition where a league system is followed by a knockout phase, there will be a debate over whether the format is fair. Often we see fourth place teams coming through to win the trophy, and that’s when these questions are raised.

The simple fact is that T20 is an entertainment format and fans want to see the knockout rounds employed after the regular season comes to an end. That’s why there is a post season formula, similar to those used in North American leagues such as the NFL and MLB.

If you read through the format you’ll realise that the system is similar to that used in other leagues such as the IPL. It looks to favour the teams that finished at the top of the table, so as a postseason format, I think it’s as fair as can be expected.

T20 cricket will always demand the excitement of a knockout phase, so we should expect a system to be in place. In terms of favouring the top teams and giving them a second chance to progress, the format used in the BBL is the best we have.

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How Many Cricket Stadiums are there in England?

As of 2026 there are 11 stadiums in England which host senior men’s international cricket. In addition, 12 cricket grounds have held international games in the past.

There are 18 professional counties in England and Wales and each of those have access to at least two grounds. Add in the many thousands of club and village cricket grounds and there is a significant number.

12 Best Cricket Grounds in England and Wales

1. Lord’s

Cricket fans in England will often refer to Lord’s as ‘headquarters’. It’s the most famous ground in the country and it’s the place where all touring teams want to visit. Named after its founder Thomas Lord, the original ground was opened in 1774 before moving to its current location in 1814.

Lord’s held its first match in 1884 and now holds the record for most tests in the UK. In the present day, it hosts tests, ODIs, T20i’s plus domestic matches in all forms including The Hundred.

There have been some memorable games here but perhaps the most famous of all came in 1984 when the touring West Indies made 344-1 on fourth innings to win, after England had declared.

2. Trent Bridge

Trent Bridge is located in Nottingham and is another of England’s most historic test grounds. It’s known as a fast-scoring ground in limited overs cricket and the second and third highest team scores in ODIS, as of 2024, have been made here.

In 2018, England compiled a colossal 481/6 against Australia while two years earlier they made 444/3 versus Pakistan. Trent Bridge was opened in 1841 and its first match took place in 1899. Currently, the stadium hosts tests, ODIs and T20is plus domestic cricket in all formats.

Trent Bridge also serves as home ground for the Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club and the Trent Rockets.

3. The Oval

Based in London, The Oval holds the honour of hosting the first ever test match to be played in England. 1880 was the year and Australia were the visitors.

It’s a regular on the circuit and The Oval has now hosted more than 100 tests. ODIs and T20is are also played here along with county games for Surrey and Hundred matches for the Oval Invincibles.

In 2007, Surrey made the world’s biggest List A score at the time when they compiled 496/4 against Gloucestershire.

4. Edgbaston Stadium

Based in Birmingham, the Edgbaston ground was opened in 1882 and it hosted its first test twenty years later. Like the other stadiums in the top six, it also holds limited overs internationals plus domestic competitions.

Domestically, Warwickshire, Birmingham in the T20 Blast, and the Birmingham Phoenix play here. Edgbaston is known for its lively atmosphere and boisterous crowd. Of all the great matches to be played at this venue, Edgbastion’s Ashes Test of 1981 stands out. With England staring at defeat, the great Ian Botham returned figures of 5-1 to claim a remarkable victory.

5. Headingley

Yorkshire, England and the Northern Superchargers are the professional teams that play at Headingley. Located in Leeds, the stadium opened its doors in 1890 and its first test was played in 1899.

All forms of the game are played here and, until recently, it was known as a ‘seamer’s paradise’ where swing and seam aided the faster bowlers. That’s maybe not the case in the modern day but Headingley can still favour the bowling unit if the external conditions are right.

Once again, the most memorable game comes from the Ashes series of 1981. Ian Botham and Bob Willis combined for an incredible England win after Australia had enforced the follow on.

6. Old Trafford

Manchester is the setting for the historic Old Trafford ground which hosted its first ever test match in 1884. It was originally constructed in 1857 while it underwent a complete transformation in the 2000s where new buildings such as The Point were implemented.

Old Trafford is the home of Lancashire CCC while the Manchester Originals play here in The Hundred. This can be another fast-scoring ground where some big team and individual totals have been made but it’s a bowler who has, perhaps, made the biggest impact.

In the 1993 Ashes Series, Shane Warne delivered the Ball of the century, fooling the England batsman Mike Gatting while making Warne’s name in the process.

7. Ageas Bowl or Rose Bowl

This is the same ground but it goes by different names depending on current sponsorship. Situated just outside Southampton, this is the regular home of Hampshire and, since 2011, it’s been hosting international cricket.

Known as a ground where the ball can swing, it’s popular with visiting bowling attacks. Tests aren’t regularly held at the Rose Bowl but you can expect to see ODIs, T20is and all forms of domestic cricket.

It was opened in 2001 and perhaps the most important game at the Rose Bowl came along in 2021 when it hosted the World Test Championship Final between India and New Zealand. It was an interesting game which New Zealand won but the match was more important from a historical perspective.

8. Sophia Gardens

Sophia Gardens is the traditional name of Wales’ biggest and most important cricket stadium. Based in Cardiff, it has previously been known as the Swalec Stadium and it hosted its first match in 2009 as part of the Ashes Series.

It’s known as a ground where spin can play an important role and the fact that England played both Monty Panesar and Graeme Swann in that game can be used as evidence. Monty later became an unlikely hero with the bat as he and James Anderson saved the match and forced a draw.

Opened in 1858, the most memorable game here saw the great Garry Sobers set a historic cricketing first. Back in 1968, the West Indian was playing for Nottinghamshire and he hit Malcolm Nash for six sixes in an over.

9. The Riverside

Durham’s Riverside Stadium is another new addition to the list of English test match grounds. Durham became a first class cricket county in 1992 while the Riverside was opened three years later.

Its first One Day International was at the 1999 World Cup while the Riverside’s first test match saw England take on Zimbabwe in 2003.

Known for colder temperatures in April and May, visiting sides from warmer climates don’t always like to come here. It’s such a recent ground and it’s hard to pick out the best fixture. Perhaps the 2019 World Cup game between England and New Zealand, where England won by 119 runs, is the standout.

10. County Ground Bristol

Bristol’s County Ground looks set to host international matches into 2025 and beyond. It was opened in 1889 and is known on the circuit for its long boundaries which might have made it suitable for test matches.

The small capacity means that only ODIs and T20is have been held here to date. Indian cricket fans will remember their side’s game against Kenya from the 1999 World Cup. Both Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid made centuries as India won by 94 runs.

11. North Marine Road Cricket Ground

Opened in 1863, the North Marine Ground is best known for hosting Yorkshire’s annual Scarborough festival. It has, however, held international games in the past. Three ODIs took place here between 1976 and 1978 and they gave us some memorable moments.

The very first ODI saw West Indies win thanks to a brilliant century from Viv Richards. His 118 from 133 balls was exceptionally fast for ODI cricket in 1976. There has been no international cricket since, but Scarborough still manages to produce a great atmosphere when Yorkshire play here.

12. St Lawrence Cricket Ground, Kent

This may not be the most obvious choice but there are many reasons why the St Lawrence Ground deserves its place. Firstly, it is very pleasing on the eye and was known for the tree that grew inside its boundary.

It’s held four one day international matches and was used in the 1999 World Cup. It was opened back in 1847 and is now solely used by Kent.

What are the Biggest Cricket Stadiums in England and Wales?

1. Lord’s

Lord’s Cricket Ground is now the largest cricket ground in England, and one of the largest cricket stadiums in the world. Extensive renovations in recent years mean that it now has a capacity of 28,000.

2. Old Trafford

For international matches, Old Trafford in Manchester can increase its capacity to 26,500. For domestic games, the limit remains healthy at 19,000.

3. Edgbaston

Edgbaston in Birmingham has a maximum capacity of 25,000. The Rose Bowl in Southampton can also extend to 25,000 but only on a temporary basis so Edgbaston comes in at number three.

What are the Smallest Cricket Grounds in England and Wales?

1. The County Ground, Northampton

Of those county cricket grounds that have hosted international cricket in the UK, the County Ground at Northampton is tiny. At its maximum capacity, only 6.500 spectators can cram in here.

2. St Lawrence Ground, Canterbury

The capacity at the St Lawrence Ground is just 7,000. It’s a stunning stadium but perhaps this is why it’s not currently used for international cricket.

3. The County Ground, Bristol

Bristol’s County Ground is still hosting international cricket but it’s also very small. Currently, the maximum capacity here is just 8,000.

How Many Cricket Grounds are there in London?

There are two cricket stadiums in London, but there are dozens of smaller cricket grounds in the UK capital. Find the complete list of cricket grounds in London below the map.

• Lord’s
• The Oval
• Bank of England Ground
• Rectory Field
• Royal Military Academy Cricket Ground, Woolwich
• Burton Court
• Cheam Cricket Club Ground
• Decca Sports Ground
• Ealing Cricket Club Ground
• East Sheen Common cricket field
• Bell Common Cricket Ground
• Woodford Green Cricket Club Ground
• Foxgrove Road, Beckenham
• Gidea Park Sports Ground
• Honor Oak Cricket Club Ground
• HSBC Sports and Social Club Cricket Ground
• Indian Gymkhana Cricket Club Ground
• Kew Cricket Club Ground
• King’s House Sports Ground
• Lensbury Sports Ground
• Leyton Cricket Ground
• Lincoln Road Ground, Enfield
• Mitcham Cricket Green
• Old Deer Park Cricket Ground
• Private Banks Sports Ground
• Richmond Green Cricket Ground
• Royal Air Force Sports Ground
• Tivoli Road Cricket Ground
• Uxbridge Cricket Club Ground
• Walker Cricket Ground
• Whitgift School
• Wimbledon Cricket Club Ground

Closing Thoughts

There are many more great cricket grounds around England and the rest of the UK and there are far too many to list in full. While the bigger venues are ideal for test cricket, many fans like a more intimate atmosphere at some of the small venues.

When the Hundred is run, the bigger counties including Yorkshire, Middlesex and Nottinghamshire head to alternative venues, and some of these are really interesting. Many fans like to tick them off their bucket list, and I particularly enjoy watching games at these smaller venues.

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