Mumbai: Afghanistan’s star spinner Rashid Khan has etched his name in the history books by becoming the highest wicket-taker in T20 International cricket. The milestone came during a tri-series clash against the UAE, where Rashid delivered a match-winning spell.
Bowling with precision, Rashid picked up 3 wickets for just 21 runs in his four-over quota, guiding Afghanistan to a comfortable 38-run victory. His stellar effort not only secured the team’s first win of the series but also propelled him past New Zealand’s Tim Southee to claim the top spot.
With this feat, Rashid now has 165 wickets in just 98 T20Is, surpassing Southee’s tally of 164 wickets in 126 matches. New Zealand’s Ish Sodhi is third with 150 wickets, followed by Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan (149) and Mustafizur Rahman (142).
Top T20I Wicket-Takers:
- Rashid Khan: 165 wickets (98 matches)
- Tim Southee: 164 wickets (126 matches)
- Ish Sodhi: 150 wickets (126 matches)
- Shakib Al Hasan: 149 wickets (129 matches)
- Mustafizur Rahman: 142 wickets (113 matches)
Batting first, Afghanistan piled up 188/4 in 20 overs, courtesy of half-centuries from Sedikullah Atal (53 off 40) and Ibrahim Zadran (63 off 40). In reply, the UAE managed 150/8 despite fighting knocks from Muhammad Waseem (67 off 37) and wicketkeeper Rahul Chopra (52 off 35).
Rashid’s record-breaking spell and Afghanistan’s comprehensive win have once again underlined the team’s growing stature in world cricket, with their star spinner leading from the front.
