Shami, Arshdeep To Afridi, Naseem: Evaluating Prime Pacers Of Each Team In Champions Trophy 2025

Shaheen Afridi, Mohammed Shami and Kagiso Rabada [Source: @ICC, @cricketworldcup/x]

Fast bowlers are integral to any team’s success, and their ability of dictating terms early with the new ball can pretty much set up the remainder of the match, regardless of the format or playing conditions. By bowling tight and wicket-taking overs on Pakistan and UAE surfaces, they can exploit the conditions to apply pressure and create crucial breakthroughs.

Ahead of the upcoming 2025 ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan and in the UAE, here we evaluate some of the prime fast bowlers from each team.

1. Pakistan – Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah

Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah ODI Stats

Wicket-taking Ability: 8/10

Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah have collectively taken 170 wickets in 85 ODIs, boasting impressive bowling averages of 23.62 and 22.71, respectively. Their strike rates of 25.4 and 25.7 further highlight their effectiveness, making them Pakistan’s premier pace duo in the format.

Economy: 7/10

Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah maintain remarkable control in ODIs, boasting economy rates of 5.57 and 5.28, respectively. Their ability to stifle runs while remaining potent wicket-takers makes them invaluable assets to Pakistan’s Champions Trophy 2025 arsenal.

Overall Evaluation: 7.50/10

2. India – Mohammed Shami and Arshdeep Singh

Mohammed Shami and Arshdeep Singh ODI Stats

Wicket-taking Ability: 8.5/10

Mohammed Shami, nearing 200 ODI wickets in just 103 matches, and Arshdeep Singh, with 14 in nine games, have demonstrated robust wicket-taking abilities. Despite bowling mostly on high-scoring pitches, they boast impressive averages of 23.96 and 23, making them key threats for India at the 2025 Champions Trophy.

Economy: 7/10

Mohammed Shami and Arshdeep Singh also maintain commendable control, with economy rates of 5.57 and 5.17 in their ODI careers up until the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. 

Overall Evaluation: 7.75/10

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3. Australia – Sean Abbott and Nathan Ellis

Sean Abbott and Nathan Ellis ODI Stats

Wicket-taking Ability: 5/10

Although Sean Abbott made his ODI debut in 2014, he has played just 28 matches, picking up 33 wickets at an expensive average and an underwhelming strike rate. Nathan Ellis, meanwhile, has featured in only nine ODIs and has never taken more than two wickets in an innings. With Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood unavailable, Abbott and Ellis will need to punch above their weights in a bid to bolster Australia’s bowling attack.

Economy: 6/10

Both Sean Abbott and Nathan Ellis hold economy rates of above 5.50 in ODIs, making it a tad expensive for Australia’s 2025 ICC Champions Trophy prospects.

Overall Evaluation: 5.50/10

4. Afghanistan – Fazalhaq Farooqi and Gulbadin Naib

Fazalhaq Farooqi and Gulbadin Naib ODI Stats

Wicket-taking Ability: 6.5/10

Fazalhaq Farooqi has taken 50 ODI wickets in just 39 matches, but at a slightly expensive average of 31.78. Batting all-rounder Gulbadin Naib is Afghanistan’s highest wicket-taking pacer in the current 2025 Champions Trophy line-up, having claimed 73 wickets in 78 innings, but also doing so with an expensive average of 35.86.

Economy: 6/10

While Fazalhaq Farooqi tends to make crucial breakthroughs, especially with the new ball, the speedster also holds an expensive economy rate of 5.77 in ODIs. Gulbadin Naib also concedes over 5.50 runs an over in the format.

Overall Evaluation: 6.25/10

5. New Zealand – Matt Henry and Kyle Jamieson

Matt Henry and Kyle Jamieson ODI Stats

Wicket-taking Ability: 7/10

Seasoned pacer Matt Henry will likely helm New Zealand’s pace attack at the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy owing to his seniority in the current line-up. The 33-year-old, with an ODI haul of 155 wickets in just 87 matches, boasts an impressive average of just 25.33 in the format. Lanky paceman Kyle Jamieson, on the other hand, is yet to leave a mark in 50-overs internationals.

Economy: 9/10

Matt Henry and Kyle Jamieson both hold exceptional economy rates of just 5.18 and 5.07 respectively, thus making them formidable threats for opposition’s batting line-ups on Pakistan and UAE surfaces.

Overall Evaluation: 8/10

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6. Bangladesh – Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed

Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed ODI Stats

Wicket-taking Ability: 9/10

Perhaps one of the most potent pace attacks among all competing teams, both of Bangladesh’s senior pacemen, Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed have collected over 100 ODI wickets, with the former sitting on a pile of 172 wickets in just 107 matches. The two speedsters also hold considerably impressive ODI averages and strike rates.

Economy: 9/10

Despite playing more than 100 matches for Bangladesh, Mustafizur Rahman has maintained an impressive economy rate of just 5.17. Taskin Ahmed also holds a knack of strangulating opposition batters, as he possesses an economy of 5.41 even though he is frequently employed to bowl some of the most difficult overs.

Overall Evaluation: 9/10

7. South Africa – Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi

Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi ODI Stats

Wicket-taking Ability: 8.5/10

South African fast bowlers Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Nigidi hold a combined experience of 167 ODIs, and have snared 259 wickets collectively in the format. With bowling averages of less than 30, Rabada and Ngidi’s pace dexterity, coupled with Marco Jansen in the line-up, makes South Africa a formidable bowling threat in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.

Economy: 7.5/10

While Kagiso Rabada holds a tight economy rate of 5.06, Lungi Ngidi tends to leak runs from his end, holding an expensive economy of 5.77.

Overall Evaluation: 8/10

8. England – Mark Wood and Jofra Archer

Mark Wood and Jofra Archer ODI Stats

Wicket-taking Ability: 6.5/10

Senior English paceman Mark Wood has claimed 79 wickets in ODIs; however, it has taken him 68 matches to do so. The most experienced fast bowler in England’s 2025 ICC Champions Trophy line-up, Wood also holds an expensive bowling average of 39.75, with an economy of over 5.50 runs an over. Jofra Archer, on the other hand, boasts of impressive average and economy rates in ODIs, but has only played 28 matches in his ODI journey so far.

Economy: 7.5/10

Mark Wood holds an economy rate of 5.54 in ODIs. Jofra Archer, on the other hand, is far more economical in the format with a rate of just 5.02 runs an over.

Overall Evaluation: 7/10

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