Every cricketer goes through bad times in his career. For a batter, it is about consistent low scores, but for a bowler, it is about not picking up the wicket. However, as every batter tends to take more risks, bowling becomes more difficult. That’s when bowlers conceded big runs in their spells.
This article will also talk about one such statistic. Here we will talk about the most expensive spells ever registered in the history of the Asia Cup. This tournament was started in 1984 and has seen many good and bad performances by the players. But who has conceded the most runs in a spell? Let’s check it out.
Most Expensive Spell in Asia Cup (ODI Format)
| Bowler | Overs | Spell | Vs | Venue | Date |
| Shafiul Islam (BAN) | 10.0 | 3/95 | Pakistan | Dambulla | 21 Jun 2010 |
| Sohail Tanvir (PAK) | 10.0 | 1/87 | India | Karachi | 02 Jul 2008 |
| T Kumaran (IND) | 10.0 | 0/86 | Pakistan | Dhaka | 03 Jun 2000 |
| Sompal Kami (Nepal) | 10 | 2/85 | PAK | Multan | 30 Aug 2023 |
| Khaled Mahmud (BAN) | 10.0 | 0/81 | Pakistan | Dhaka | 02 Jun 2000 |
| Shahadat Hossain (BAN) | 10.0 | 0/81 | India | Mirpur | 16 Mar 2012 |
| Mohammed Shami (IND) | 10.0 | 3/81 | Sri Lanka | Fatullah | 28 Feb 2014 |
| Irfan Pathan (IND) | 10.0 | 1/80 | Sri Lanka | Karachi | 03 Jul 2008 |
| Khurram Khan (UAE) | 10.0 | 2/78 | Bangladesh | Lahore | 24 Jun 2008 |
| Mashrafe Mortaza (BAN) | 10.0 | 1/78 | Sri Lanka | Karachi | 30 Jun 2008 |
| Praveen Kumar (IND) | 10.0 | 2/77 | Pakistan | Mirpur | 18 Mar 2012 |
6. Shahadat Hossain (BAN) – 0/81
Shahadat Hossain registered the joint-fourth-most expensive spell in the Asia Cup. But lucky for me, it came in a wining cause. It was the game against India in Mirpur during the 2012 Asia Cup. Batting first, India made 289/5, with Sachin Tendulkar scoring 114. Shahadat Hossain bowled his ten overs for 81 runs without taking a wicket. But Bangladesh chased down the score and made 293/5 in 49.2 overs to win by five wickets.
5. Khaled Mahmud (BAN) – 0/81
Khaled Mahmud was another Bangladesh pacer who bowled a spell of 0/81 in his ten overs. He had it in a match against Pakistan in Dhaka in the 2000 Asia Cup. Batting first, Pakistan made a big total of 320/3. Imran Nazir (80), Mohammad Yousuf (80), and Inzamam-ul-Haq (75*) scored centuries. Khaled bowled his ten overs for 81 runs without a wicket. Chasing the score, Bangladesh only managed an 87-run all-out, which is six runs more than Khaled’s spell.
3. Thirunavukkarasu Kumaran (IND) – 0/86
Former Indian pacer Thirunavukkarasu Kumaran also features in this list. He conceded one such spell against Pakistan in Dhaka during the 2000 Asia Cup. In the first inning, Pakistan posted a good total of 295/7. Mohammad Yousuf made 100 not out. Kumaran bowled 10 overs and gave away 86 runs without taking a wicket. Amit Bhandari (2/75) was also expensive. India got all out for 251 and lost the game by 44 runs.
2. Sohail Tanvir (PAK) – 1/87
Former left-arm Pakistani pacer Sohail Tanvir has bowled the second-most expensive spell. He bowled it against India in Karachi in the 2008 Asia Cup, but Pakistan won that game. Batting first, India made 308/7. Tanvir bowled ten overs for 1/87. In reply, Pakistan reached the target in 45.3 overs and made 309/2. Younis Khan made 123 not out.
1. Shafiul Islam (BAN) – 3/95
The most expensive Asia Cup spell was recorded by Shafiul Islam from Bangladesh. He had it against Pakistan in Dambulla in the 2010 Asia Cup. Pakistan scored the highest Asia Cup total of 385/7. Shahid Afridi smashed a 53-ball ton and made 124 off 60 balls. Every Bangladeshi bowler had runs, but Shafiul ended up with 3/95. In response, Bangladesh made 246/5 and lost by 139 runs.