Former England all-rounder Moeen Ali has sparked widespread debate by questioning the status of Pakistan pacers as the world's best bowling attack. His comments came during a podcast appearance alongside fellow England cricketer Adil Rashid, addressing perceptions around Pakistan's celebrated pace trio.
Moeen directly challenged a common narrative within cricket circles regarding Pakistan's seam bowling resources. "There's this perception, especially among people with Pakistani backgrounds, that Pakistan has the best seamers. I'm like, no. They're good, but they're not the best," Ali stated during the discussion.
While acknowledging the individual talents of Pakistan's premier fast bowlers, Ali maintained his position that they shouldn't be considered superior to other international pace attacks. "Naseem Shah, Shaheen, and Haris Rauf are very good, don't get me wrong. We're not saying they're bad, but they're not the best either," he elaborated.
The timing of Ali's assessment follows Pakistan's pace attack facing significant challenges during their Champions Trophy 2025 campaign. Despite enjoying tremendous support and reputation within Pakistan cricket circles, the performances of Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, and Haris Rauf in the tournament raised questions about their effectiveness at the highest level.
Cricket analysts note that Pakistan's pacers have historically been celebrated for their skill, particularly in swing and reverse swing bowling. However, recent performances in global tournaments have prompted a reevaluation of their standing compared to pace attacks from countries like Australia, India, and South Africa.
Ali's comments have generated substantial reaction across cricket media, particularly in Pakistan where the pace bowling tradition holds special significance in the country's cricketing identity.
In separate cricket news, England batsman Harry Brook has been banned from the Indian Premier League for two years after withdrawing from his Delhi Capitals contract to focus on international cricket commitments.
