Afghanistan’s superstar leg-spinner Rashid Khan has etched his name in cricket history, becoming the leading wicket-taker in men’s T20 Internationals. His brilliant 3/11 in 4 overs against the UAE in Sharjah not only helped Afghanistan secure a 38-run win, but also took him past New Zealand’s Tim Southee to claim the No.1 spot on the all-time wicket list.
📊 Rashid Khan’s Historic Achievement
With his three-wicket haul, Rashid Khan now has:
- 165 wickets in Men’s T20Is
- An astonishing average of 13.75
- A miserly economy rate of 6.07
He overtook Southee (164 wickets) with his final strike of the night, when he dismissed Dhruv Parashar caught behind, sparking celebrations among Afghan fans worldwide.
🥇 Top 5 Wicket-Takers in Men’s T20I History
| Rank | Player | Team | Wickets | Average | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rashid Khan | Afghanistan | 165 | 13.75 | 6.07 |
| 2 | Tim Southee | New Zealand | 164 | 22.38 | 8.00 |
| 3 | Ish Sodhi | New Zealand | 150 | 22.52 | 7.95 |
| 4 | Shakib Al Hasan | Bangladesh | 149 | 20.91 | 6.81 |
| 5 | Mustafizur Rahman | Bangladesh | 142 | 20.84 | 7.30 |
🔥 How Rashid Khan Achieved the Milestone
- Early breakthrough: Dismissed Ethan D’Souza (12).
- Crucial strikes: Removed power-hitter Asif Khan cheaply (1).
- Record wicket: Claimed Dhruv Parashar (1) with the last ball of his spell, overtaking Southee.
Rashid’s spell triggered a UAE middle-order collapse, leaving them with no chance of chasing Afghanistan’s 188-run target.
💥 Afghanistan’s Batting Heroes
Before Rashid’s magic, Afghanistan’s batters set the tone:
- Ibrahim Zadran & Sediqullah Atal – 84-run partnership.
- Karim Janat & Azmatullah Omarzai – explosive hitting at the death, adding 49 runs in just 3 overs.
- Afghanistan finished with 188 runs, putting the UAE under immense pressure.
🏆 Match Summary – Afghanistan vs UAE (Sharjah)
- Afghanistan: 188/6 in 20 overs
- Ibrahim Zadran: steady knock
- Azmatullah Omarzai: big-hitting cameo
- UAE: 150/7 in 20 overs
- Rahul Chopra: 52* (35) – fighting innings
- Rashid Khan: 3/11 (4 overs), match-winner
Result: Afghanistan won by 38 runs
🌟 Rashid Khan – A Modern-Day Great
At just 26 years old, Rashid Khan has already:
- Captained Afghanistan in major ICC tournaments.
- Achieved global stardom in IPL and T20 leagues.
- Become the fastest to 100 T20I wickets earlier in his career.
- Now, the highest wicket-taker in Men’s T20I cricket.
🏁 Conclusion
Rashid Khan’s rise to the top of T20I bowling charts is a proud moment for Afghanistan cricket. His consistency, skill, and leadership have made him one of the most feared bowlers in world cricket. With years of cricket still ahead of him, Rashid could well extend this record to unreachable heights.
