Pakistan Pace Attack Crisis: Why Their Test Bowling Ranks 9th Lowest at 0.95%

Pakistan’s identity in Test cricket has historically been built around fast bowling. From Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis to Shoaib Akhtar and the modern era of Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah, Pakistan produced some of the world’s most feared pace attacks.

But the numbers since March 2024 show a major decline.

For a country known for producing fast bowlers, the decline raises questions about Pakistan’s bowling development, injuries, workload management and future Test strategy.

Pakistan Pace Attack Speed Statistics Since March 2024

Why Pakistan’s Fast Bowling Has Declined Since 2024

Pakistan’s current pace problem is not because the country lacks talent. The bigger issue is that the bowlers who carried Pakistan’s pace reputation are either unavailable, injured or no longer bowling at their peak speeds.

Shaheen Shah Afridi’s Pace Drop Changed Pakistan’s Attack

Shaheen Shah Afridi regularly bowled around 145 to 148 km/h at his peak and combined speed with his dangerous left-arm swing.

However, his pace dropped significantly during his second spell after injury issues, with speeds falling around the 126 to 127 km/h range in recent Test appearances.

That decline affected his effectiveness with the red ball, leading selectors to leave him out of the West Indies and England Test squads and encourage him to rebuild his form through domestic cricket.

Naseem Shah Missing Leaves a Major Gap

Naseem Shah was Pakistan’s other genuine express option, capable of touching 150 km/h early in his career.

His absence from the current Test setup has removed Pakistan’s ability to consistently attack batsmen with extreme pace.

Without Shaheen and Naseem operating at full strength, Pakistan’s attack has lost the intimidation factor that once separated them from other teams.

Bangladesh’s Fast Bowling Rise Exposed Pakistan’s Weakness

Bangladesh’s dominance over Pakistan, including four consecutive Test wins across the 2024 and 2026 series, exposed Pakistan’s declining pace attack.

Nahid Rana and Bangladesh’s fast bowlers created problems with extra speed and bounce, while Pakistan lacked the same threat.

Since March 2024, Bangladesh have bowled 21.7% of deliveries above 140 km/h compared with Pakistan’s 0.95%. With Shaheen Shah Afridi below his peak pace and Naseem Shah unavailable, Pakistan’s traditional fast bowling advantage has become a major weakness.

Pakistan’s West Indies Test Challenge: Pace Could Decide the Series

Pakistan’s tour of the West Indies will provide another test for their bowling strategy.

The Brian Lara Cricket Academy surface in Trinidad is generally considered one of the quicker pitches in the Caribbean. While West Indies do not produce the same speed numbers as Australia or Bangladesh, their 8.3 percent rate above 140 km/h still gives them a physical advantage compared with Pakistan.

Pakistan’s batting lineup could face difficulties against bowlers who can extract bounce and movement.

However, Pakistan’s selection also shows a different approach.

Mohammad Abbas has been included because conditions in the Caribbean and England are not only about speed. Accuracy, movement and controlling the game remain important.

Pakistan’s New Test Pace Attack: The Next Generation

With Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah unavailable, Pakistan are looking toward a new group of fast bowlers.

The current Test pace options include:

The challenge for Pakistan is developing these bowlers while maintaining their workload and fitness.

Ubaid Shah represents the future investment, while experienced bowlers like Mohammad Abbas provide control and leadership.

Pakistan’s long-term goal should not only be finding 150 km/h bowlers, but creating a complete pace system that produces fast bowlers consistently.

Can Pakistan Rebuild Their Fast Bowling Reputation?

Pakistan still has the raw talent and history to rebuild their pace attack.

The return of Shaheen and Naseem to their best levels would immediately improve the numbers. However, relying only on two bowlers is the problem Pakistan must solve.

Australia’s success comes from producing multiple quality fast bowlers. Bangladesh’s improvement shows that structured development can transform a bowling attack quickly.

Pakistan now need the same approach.

The 0.95 percent figure is not only a speed statistic. It represents a deeper issue in Pakistan Test cricket, the decline of their biggest traditional strength.

FAQs

Which team has the fastest Test pace attack since 2024?

Australia have the fastest Test pace attack since March 2024, with 22.1 percent of deliveries above 140 km/h. Bangladesh are surprisingly second with 21.7 percent.

Why is Pakistan’s pace attack struggling in Test cricket?

Pakistan’s decline is linked to Shaheen Shah Afridi’s reduced pace after injury issues and Naseem Shah’s absence from the Test setup. Without their two main express bowlers, Pakistan’s percentage of deliveries above 140 km/h has dropped to 0.95 percent.

Who are Pakistan’s new Test fast bowlers?

Pakistan’s current Test pace options include Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Khurram Shahzad and Ubaid Shah as the team looks to rebuild its fast bowling attack.