Kuldeep Yadav is renowned for his wrist spin, making him a formidable wicket-taker. Similarly, Pakistan has selected Sufiyan Muqeem, a wrist-spinner, for the Asia Cup. This 25-year-old, like Kuldeep, uses his wrists to spin the ball. He has a strong record of taking wickets since debuting for Pakistan, gaining recognition during the Emerging Asia Cup against India.
Muqeem made his international debut for Pakistan in October 2023. In the Emerging Asia Cup final in July 2023, Muqeem took 3 wickets for 66 runs in 10 overs, helping Pakistan A beat India A. Before the senior Indian team’s victory in the Asia Cup in September, Muqeem had already made an impact, contributing to India A’s defeat, which resulted in his promotion to the senior Pakistan team. In his first T20 match for Pakistan in October 2023, he took 2 wickets against Hong Kong.
In his T20 International career, Sufiyan Muqeem has claimed 25 wickets in 17 matches, maintaining an economy rate of 6.29. His best performance includes taking 5 wickets for 3 runs against Zimbabwe.
India has yet to face Muqeem, positioning him as a potential surprise element for Pakistan in their upcoming match on September 14. Consequently, he could present a significant challenge to India during the Asia Cup 2025.