Expensive Bowling Spells in PSL: In the thrilling world of T20 cricket, bowlers are often put under immense pressure by aggressive batting. The Pakistan Super League (PSL), known for its explosive batting talent, has witnessed some unforgettable high-scoring encounters. While bowlers are expected to keep things tight, sometimes the tables turn, and even the best of them end up conceding big runs. In this article, we count down the Top 5 Expensive Bowling Spells in PSL—the most runs conceded in a single innings in league history—ranked from 5 to 1, with full stats and detailed descriptions.
List of Top 5 Most Expensive Bowling Spells in PSL History
5. Zafar Gohar
Zafar Gohar, a skilled spinner representing Islamabad United, endured a rough outing against Peshawar Zalmi in the 2021 season—an effort that stands out among the most Expensive Bowling Spells in PSL history. Despite his control and variations, Zalmi batters took him apart, especially in the powerplay and death overs. In his 4-over spell, Zafar went wicketless and leaked 65 runs, making it one of the costliest spells in PSL history. His economy rate of 16.25 reflected the brutal assault by the opposition. It was a rare off-day for a bowler who’s usually known for maintaining tight lines.
| Player | Overs Bowled | Runs Conceded | Wickets Taken | Opposition |
| Zafar Gohar | 4.0 | 65 | 0 | Zalmi |
4. Anwar Ali
Anwar Ali, known for his late-swinging deliveries and lower-order power-hitting, featured in one of the most expensive bowling spells in PSL history when he faced the heat against Peshawar Zalmi while playing for Multan Sultans in 2023. The Zalmi batters launched an all-out attack on him, targeting both length and short deliveries. Anwar ended up conceding 66 runs in his 4 overs and managed to pick up just 1 wicket. His economy of 16.50 indicated how relentless the opposition was. Though Anwar did get a breakthrough, it couldn’t undo the damage that had already been done.
| Player | Overs Bowled | Runs Conceded | Wickets Taken | Opposition |
| Anwar Ali | 4.0 | 66 | 1 | Zalmi |
3. Shahid Afridi
Even legends have tough days—and Shahid Afridi experienced one in 2022 while representing Quetta Gladiators against Islamabad United. Known for his aggressive spin bowling and match-turning spells, Afridi was taken to the cleaners by a determined United batting lineup. In his full 4-over quota, he gave away 67 runs, managing just 1 wicket. With an economy rate of 16.75, it became one of the most Expensive Bowling Spells in PSL history—a reminder of how brutal T20 cricket can be, even for seasoned campaigners like Afridi.
| Player | Overs Bowled | Runs Conceded | Wickets Taken | Opposition |
| Shahid Afridi | 4.0 | 67 | 1 | United |
2. Usama Mir
In a 2024 PSL game, Usama Mir, one of Multan Sultans’ trusted leg-spinners, faced a nightmare spell against Islamabad United. On a batting-friendly Rawalpindi pitch, Mir couldn’t find his rhythm, and United’s batsmen punished him with aggressive strokeplay. He bowled his full quota of 4 overs, conceding a massive 68 runs without taking a single wicket. With an economy rate of 17.00, this performance stands out among the most Expensive Bowling Spells in PSL history. It highlighted how T20 cricket offers little margin for error.
| Player | Overs Bowled | Runs Conceded | Wickets Taken | Opposition |
| Usama Mir | 4.0 | 68 | 0 | United |
1. Qais Ahmad
Topping the list of Expensive Bowling Spells in PSL is Qais Ahmad, who bowled the most expensive spell in the league’s history. Playing for Quetta Gladiators in a 2023 encounter against Multan Sultans, Qais endured a brutal assault that saw him give away 77 runs in 4 overs. Despite the carnage, he did manage to take 2 wickets, but his economy rate of 19.25 was the highest ever recorded in a full spell of 4 overs in PSL. Batters targeted every delivery with fearless hitting, and Qais’s spin proved ineffective on that particular day. It stands as a harsh example of how quickly fortunes can swing in T20 cricket.
| Player | Overs Bowled | Runs Conceded | Wickets Taken | Opposition |
| Qais Ahmad | 4.0 | 77 | 2 | Sultans |
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