In the ODI format, 20 maiden overs stand at the top of the chart
The Asia Cup 2025 is here, and as it happens with every tournament, a number of records are likely to be shattered to make way for new records. However, when we look back at the record, there is one particular aspect that we believe will stand the test of time. The record is the number of maiden overs bowled in the history of the Asia Cup, which has stood intact since 2008.
In the listicle below, let us look at bowlers with the greatest number of maiden overs bowled in both formats of the tournament.
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A legendary Sri Lankan pacer, Chaminda Vaas, represented Sri Lanka in 19 Asia Cup matches. Given that the T20 format was introduced in 2003, not 2016, and since Vaas did not play in the T20 format, all his 19 matches were ODIs. In 19 matches, he bowled 20 maiden overs.
Trailing behind Vaas is another cricket legend, Muttiah Muralitharan. The Sri Lankan bowler played 25 Asia Cup games, during which he bowled 13 maiden overs. Given that bowling a maiden over is incredibly hard, even though the difference seems less between Vaas’s 20 and Muralitharan’s 13, it is quite a contrast.
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The Sri Lankan dominance is unreal because even the third bowler on this list is from Sri Lanka. Nuwan Zoysa represented Sri Lanka in eight matches, registering 11 maiden overs in his appearances.
Breaking the Sri Lankan streak, Bangladesh’s Abdur Razzak stands fourth on the table. In 18 matches, Razzak registered 10 maiden overs.
Bangladesh’s legendary all-rounder Shakib Al Hassan joined the list of elites, following his countryman Razzak. Hasan appeared in 18 matches, bowling nine maiden overs. He failed to equalise Razzak’s record by the difference of one over.
Unfortunately, no Indian bowler is in the top five, and when it comes to the top 10, Manoj Prabhakar stands sixth with nine maidens in 12 matches in the ODI format.
In the T20 format, India leads the chart, with Bhuvneshwar Kumar standing at the top. In six Asia Cup T20 matches, he has three maiden overs.
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Following Kumar is another Indian stalwart, Jasprit Bumrah. In five T20 matches, Bumrah has two maiden overs. Fortunately, Bumrah has the opportunity to topple Kumar and grab first place, given this year’s format is T20, and Bumrah is only two maiden overs away from the top spot.
Finally, in third place is Mohammad Naveed from the United Arab Emirates. He took two maiden overs in seven matches.
