Here is a look at the top wicket-takers in the history of the Asia Cup. In keeping with the prevalent conditions in the continent, spinners dominate the list, with Lasith Malinga the only fast-bowler in the top five. While no Indian figures even in the top 10, Ravindra Jadeja is ninth on the list with 22 wickets.
Lasith Malinga (33 wickets)
Former Sri Lanka pacer Lasith Malinga is the leading wicket-taker in the Asia Cup with 33 wickets in 15 innings. His staggering numbers include two four-fers and three five-wicket hauls. His best figures of five for 34 came against Pakistan in the 2010 edition. His two other five-wicket hauls were also against Pakistan, both in the 2014 tournament where he picked 11 wickets in four matches to help Sri Lanka clinch the title.
| Innings | Wickets | Economy Rate | Average | Best | 4/5 |
| 15 | 33 | 4.70 | 18.84 | 5/34 | 2/3 |
Lasith Malinga celebrates after taking the wicket of Pakistan’s Umar Akmal during the Asia Cup final in Dhaka on March 8, 2014. | Photo Credit: AP
Muttiah Muralitharan (30 wickets)
Legendary spinner Muttiah Muralitharan is hot on the heels of his compatriot Malinga with 30 wickets in 24 innings at the continental event. His most successful outing was in 2008, when he scalped 11 wickets in five matches, which included a five for 31 against Bangladesh. However, Muralitharan has had limited success against stronger oppositions such as India and Pakistan, picking a combined 10 wickets in 16 matches against the two teams.
| Innings | Wickets | Economy Rate | Average | Best | 4/5 |
| 24 | 30 | 3.75 | 28.83 | 5/31 | 1/1 |
Sri Lanka wicket-keeper Kumar Sangakkara and bowler Muttiah Muralitharan celebrate the dismissal of Pakistan batter Inzamam-ul-Haq during Asia Cup 2004 in Colombo on July 21. 2004. | Photo Credit: REUTERS
Ajantha Mendis (26 wickets)
Third on the list is yet another Sri Lankan Ajantha Mendis, with a staggering haul of 26 wickets in just eight matches in the Asia Cup. The wily off-spinner turned heads when he wrecked India in the 2008 Asia Cup final in Karachi with figures of six for 13. The Men in Blue had no response to the then 23-year-old’s mystery and capitulated for 173 in response to 273. Earlier in the tournament, Mendis had tormented UAE and Pakistan with figures of five for 22 and four for 47, respectively and ended the 2008 edition with 17 wickets in five matches at an astounding average of 8.52.
| Innings | Wickets | Economy Rate | Average | Best | 4/5 |
| 8 | 26 | 3.98 | 10.42 | 6/13 | 2/2 |
Ajantha Mendis celebrates after taking the wicket of Indian batter Suresh Raina during The Asia Cup final between at The National Cricket Stadium in Karachi on July 6, 2008. | Photo Credit: AFP
Saeed Ajmal (25 wickets)
Yet another off-spinner, Saeed Ajmal, makes it to the list of the top wicket-takers at the Asia Cup. With 25 wickets in 12 innings under his belt, Ajmal is Pakistan’s most successful bowler in the tournament. He had a dream run in the 2014 edition, where he scalped 11 wickets in five matches in Pakistan’s march to the final. Ajmal also helped Pakistan clinch the title in 2012, contributing with eight wickets in four matches.
| Innings | Wickets | Economy Rate | Average | Best | 4/5 |
| 12 | 25 | 4.21 | 19.40 | 3/26 | 0/0 |
Saeed Ajmal (center left without cap) celebrates with teammates the dismissal of Bangladesh’s Jahurul Islam during the Asia Cup final in Dhaka, Bangladesh on March 22, 2012. | Photo Credit: AP
Shakib Al Hasan (24 wickets)
All-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, who will lead Bangladesh in Asia Cup 2022, is also his country’s highest wicket-taker in the tournament with 24 scalps in 18 innings. His most fruitful outing was at the last edition in 2018, where he picked seven wickets in four matches, including four for 42 against Afghanistan in the group stage. Other than topping the bowling charts for Bangladesh, Shakib is also third on the list of the highest run-scorers for the Tigers in the tournament with 479 runs at an average of 28.17.
| Innings | Wickets | Economy Rate | Average | Best | 4/5 |
| 18 | 24 | 5.05 | 30.41 | 4/42 | 1/0 |
Shakib Al Hasan bowls during the Asia Cup match between Afghanistan and Bangladesh at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on September 23, 2018. | Photo Credit: AFP
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