Afghanistan’s star leg-spinner Rashid Khan further cemented his legacy as one of the greatest bowlers in the history of T20 cricket with a brilliant performance in Sharjah, guiding his team to victory over the UAE in the ongoing tri-nation series.
The 26-year-old claimed three wickets, a spell that not only ensured Afghanistan’s win but also placed him at the very top of the all-time T20I wicket-takers list, overtaking New Zealand’s Tim Southee.
Rashid Breaks Records
Rashid now has 165 wickets in just 98 T20 internationals, with a remarkable economy rate of 6.07. In comparison, Southee stands at 164 wickets from 126 matches with an economy of 8.00.
What makes Rashid’s achievement even more extraordinary is his consistency across global T20 competitions. Overall, he has taken 664 wickets in 489 T20 matches worldwide, making him the leading wicket-taker in the format’s history. Given his age and workload, analysts believe this record could remain untouched for years to come.
Pakistan’s Haris Rauf Among Top Bowlers
Pakistan is also represented on this elite list through Haris Rauf, who sits 11th with 124 T20I wickets in 88 games, highlighting his importance to Pakistan’s bowling attack.
Top Wicket-Takers in T20 Internationals
| Player | Teams | Span | Mat | Inns | Balls | Overs | Mdns | Runs | Wkts | BBI | Ave | Econ | SR | 4w | 5w |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rashid Khan | AFG/ICC | 2015–2025 | 98 | 98 | 2240 | 373.2 | 1 | 2269 | 165 | 5/3 | 13.75 | 6.07 | 13.57 | 8 | 2 |
| Tim Southee | NZ | 2008–2024 | 126 | 123 | 2753 | 458.5 | 7 | 3671 | 164 | 5/18 | 22.38 | 8.00 | 16.78 | 2 | 2 |
| Ish Sodhi | NZ | 2014–2025 | 126 | 121 | 2549 | 424.5 | 0 | 3379 | 150 | 4/12 | 22.52 | 7.95 | 16.99 | 4 | 0 |
| Shakib Al Hasan | BAN | 2006–2024 | 129 | 126 | 2745 | 457.3 | 3 | 3117 | 149 | 5/20 | 20.91 | 6.81 | 18.42 | 6 | 2 |
| Mustafizur Rahman | BAN | 2015–2025 | 113 | 112 | 2430 | 405.0 | 8 | 2960 | 142 | 6/10 | 20.84 | 7.30 | 17.11 | 3 | 2 |
Afghanistan’s Tournament Progress
The landmark came on the same night Afghanistan registered their first win of the series, beating hosts UAE by 38 runs. This result placed Afghanistan second on the points table, with one victory from two matches.
Pakistan remain unbeaten at the top of the standings after securing wins against both Afghanistan and the UAE, while the hosts continue without a victory.
Next Clash: Afghanistan vs Pakistan
Rashid Khan and his team now prepare to face Pakistan once again tonight in Sharjah. The highly anticipated encounter between the two regional rivals is expected to deliver intensity and drama, as both sides look to make a statement in the competition.
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