Abu Dhabi: Afghanistan ace-spinner Rashid Khan created history at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium by entering the elite list of bowlers with 400 wickets in competitive T20 cricket, during the team’s T20 World Cup match against New Zealand on Sunday.
Rashid, who became a household name with his consistent performance in the T20 leagues across the world. He is considered among the top cricketers in T20 cricket, became the youngest fourth bowler in history, who have managed to get more than 400 wickets in the shortest format of the game. It took just 296 games for him to reach here. Only three other bowlers have crossed the 400-wicket mark in T20 cricket.
The 23-year-old spinner reached the milestone when he bowled New Zealand opener Martin Guptill with a wrong’un in the ninth over of New Zealand’s innings. Rashid achieved the feat in his 289th T20 match. Rashid also holds the record for most T20 scalps in a calendar year, having picked a staggering 96 wickets in 2018.
Earlier, Rashid had also become the quickest bowler to register 100 wickets in T20Is in the ongoing T20 World Cup.
Another landmark 🚩 for @rashidkhan_19
Rashid went through the defences of Martin Guptill to complete his 400 wickets in T20 cricket. Earlier in the tournament, he became the fastest bowler to take 100 wickets in T20Is in terms of fewer number innings (53). pic.twitter.com/v0qni4AEBh— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) November 7, 2021
Currently West Indies Dwayne Bravo is at the top of the list. He is the first to reach the feat in 364 matches, also became the first bowler to cross 500 T20 wickets. The West Indies all-rounder, who has just announced his international retirement from the format, has 553 wickets from 512 matches. Followed by Bravo two other bowler on this list are Sunil Narine (425), Imran Tahir (420) both reaching the milestone earlier this year. All of them have represented their nations for a very long time.
