Pakistan and West Indies will square off in a two-match Test series from July 25 to August 6, 2026, as part of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship cycle. The opening Test will be played at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, which is set to host its maiden Test match, before the action shifts to Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain for the second encounter.
Pakistan head into the series after a productive drawn warm-up match against the West Indies Select XI. Returning Test captain Babar Azam and youngster Azan Awais both struck impressive centuries, while fast bowler Mohammad Ali claimed a five-wicket haul. With reports suggesting that the hosts have prepared lively, pace-friendly surfaces, bowlers are once again expected to play a decisive role. Ahead of the series, here are the five highest wicket-takers in the history of WI vs PAK Test cricket.
Top 5 bowlers with most wickets in WI vs PAK Test history
1. Imran Khan (Pakistan) – 80 wickets
Former Pakistan captain Imran Khan tops the all-time list with 80 wickets in 18 Test matches against the West Indies. One of the greatest fast-bowling all-rounders the game has ever seen, Imran consistently troubled the Caribbean batters with pace, movement and relentless accuracy. His best innings figures of 7/80 came during this rivalry, while he also registered six five-wicket hauls and one ten-wicket match haul.
2. Wasim Akram (Pakistan) – 79 wickets
Just one wicket behind Imran is legendary left-arm pacer Wasim Akram, who picked up 79 wickets in 17 Tests against the West Indies. Akram’s ability to swing the new ball and reverse the old one made him a nightmare for batters across conditions. He averaged an outstanding 20.82 in this fixture, with his finest bowling performance being 6/61. The Pakistan great also recorded four five-wicket hauls and one ten-wicket match haul during his memorable battles against the Caribbean side.
3. Courtney Walsh (West Indies) – 63 wickets
Courtney Walsh remains the most successful West Indies bowler in this rivalry with 63 wickets in 18 Test matches. Renowned for his remarkable consistency and endurance, Walsh repeatedly delivered breakthroughs with the new ball while maintaining relentless pressure throughout long spells. His best innings figures of 5/22 helped cement his reputation as one of the finest fast bowlers of his generation.
4. Waqar Younis (Pakistan) – 55 wickets
Pakistan pace legend Waqar Younis occupies fourth place after claiming 55 wickets in just 13 Test matches. Blessed with exceptional pace and devastating reverse swing, Waqar often dismantled batting line-ups in short bursts. His best bowling figures of 5/46 highlight the impact he had whenever he faced the West Indies, while his strike rate remains among the best on this list.
5. Colin Croft (West Indies) – 50 wickets
Former West Indies fast bowler Colin Croft rounds off the top five with 50 wickets from only nine Test matches. Croft’s intimidating pace, steep bounce and awkward angle made him one of the most feared bowlers of his era. His career-best spell of 8/29 remains one of the finest bowling performances recorded in the history of the Pakistan-West Indies Test rivalry.
Active bowlers aiming to climb the all-time wicket charts
While none of the active players have broken into the top five yet, a few bowlers involved in the upcoming series already boast impressive records against their opponents and could continue climbing the list.
West Indies left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican leads the active wicket-takers with 19 wickets in just three Tests against Pakistan, including a stunning 7/32 in Multan during the previous series. Pakistan’s experienced seamer Mohammad Abbas has claimed 18 wickets in three Tests against the Caribbean side, while off-spinner Sajid Khan has taken 15 wickets in only two matches. With pace-friendly conditions expected in Tarouba and Port of Spain, all three bowlers will be eager to add to their impressive records during the upcoming two-Test series.
