Top 5 Leading wicket takers in Cricket World Cup history

#4. Chaminda Vaas (Sri Lanka) - 49 Wickets

Chaminda Vaas is the greatest fast bowler Sri Lanka has produced

Born on 27th January, 1974, Chaminda Vaas went on to establish himself as the best fast-bowler to have ever donned the Sri Lankan jersey. Through his international career, the left-arm pacer accumulated 400 wickets in the ODI format while also garnering 355 wickets in the Test arena.

However, come the World Cup, Vaas was an even tougher proposition to tackle and his record is a testament to the fact.

He played four World Cups for Sri Lanka with his first appearance coming in the victorious 1996 campaign while he led the island nation to another final in his last World Cup in 2007.

In between, Vaas scalped 49 batsmen in 31 games at an average of 21.22 and an economy rate of 3.97.

Hence, indicating that the seamer barely ever allowed the batsmen to get on top and take the game away from his side.

Moreover, his propensity to swing the new ball prodigiously meant that Sri Lanka could stifle the opposition from the outset. His adroitness with the ball also helped him pick up a hat-trick in the World Cup.

Vaas did so against Bangladesh in the 2003 edition when he dismissed Hannan Sarkar, Mohammad Ashraful and Ehsanul Haque of the first three deliveries of their innings.

Thus, there can be absolutely no doubt with regards to the seamer’s place among the pantheon of great fast bowlers to have bowled in the World Cup.