In a historic moment for Afghanistan and for T20 cricket, star bowler and captain Rashid Khan has become the leading wicket-taker in men’s T20 Internationals. The 26-year-old leg-spinner achieved the milestone on Monday, September 1, during the UAE T20I Tri-Series match against the United Arab Emirates at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
Rashid claimed figures of 3 for 21, taking his career tally to 165 wickets in just 98 matches. This performance surpassed the previous record of 164 wickets held by New Zealand’s Tim Southee, who took 126 matches to reach his total.
Rashid’s record-breaking wicket came in the 15th over when he dismissed Dhruv Parashar, who edged a leg-break to a substitute fielder. This crucial wicket, his third of the match, sealed his place at the top of the all-time list. His other two victims were Ethan D’Souza and Asif Khan.
The exceptional bowling performance was a key factor in Afghanistan’s 38-run victory. The Afghan team posted a competitive total of 188-4, and Rashid’s spell helped restrict the UAE to 150-8 in their chase.
Rashid Khan is already the highest wicket-taker in all T20 cricket combined, with 664 wickets in the shortest format of the game. His latest achievement solidifies his reputation as a modern-day great and a match-winner for Afghanistan on the international stage.
