Former India pacer and 2011 World Cup winner Zaheer Khan unveiled his list of the top 5 ODI bowlers. Shockingly, Jasprit Bumrah was missing from his list, while Zaheer included two Pakistani speedsters in his top 5.

Zaheer, who accounted for the dismissal of 282 batters in 200 ODI matches played from October 2000 to August 2012, mentioned Wasim Akram, Glenn McGrath, Waqar Younis, Chaminda Vaas, and Dale Steyn’s names.

“There were a lot of the international bowlers around me which were making a really good impact. Wasim Akram is obviously one of those names which were impactful in this format with his variations, those yorkers, going around the wicket, over the wicket, and using those slow ones. In this format, he’s had a huge impact,” Zaheer Khan said on Cricbuzz.

Akram played 356 matches for Men in Green and picked up 502 wickets. He was the first bowler in ODI history to cross the 500-wicket mark. He also won the 1992 World Cup with Pakistan.

“Another name which I really looked up to also was Glenn McGrath. With the accuracy which he had, the simplicity in the action, and that extra bounce and impact with the new ball, it is something that was very evident right throughout his career across all formats.

Let’s talk about Waqar Younis. You talk about the strike rate; you talk about the impact. If you look at his numbers (416 wickets in 262 ODIs) also, they are right up there, and especially the number which is striking is the number of fifers (13) he has taken in the ODI format right throughout his career. So, the impact was phenomenal in terms of having that striking ability. (He) was not afraid of going for runs; that’s the mindset which maybe the modern-day bowlers also should take from," Zaheer added.

Waqar Younis played 262 ODIs, taking 416 wickets with a best of 7/36. On the other hand, Glenn Mcgrath played 250 ODIs for Australia and picked 381 wickets with a best of 7/15. He was also part of Australia’s 1999, 2003, and 2007 World Cup-winning teams.

Speaking about Sri Lanka’s Vaas and South Africa’s Steyn, Zaheer said, “Chaminda Vaas is another bowler who I feel has to be right up there. His impact, if you go to see, was pretty much with the new ball. In subcontinental conditions, to have that kind of accuracy, keeping things simple, and he was very impactful in giving that control to his team with line length, accuracy, and consistency."

Chaminda Vaas took 400 wickets in 322 ODIs for Sri Lanka and holds the record for best figures in the format, taking 8/19. He was part of Sri Lanka’s 1996 World Cup-winning team.

“Dale Steyn is someone who we all know with his fiery approach, with his fast outswingers, is something, you know, which impact was always there. He used to get through that crease very fast and had an impact through and through," Zaheer added.

Dale Steyn played 125 ODIs for South Africa and picked 196 wickets with a best of 6/39.