The T20I captain of the Afghanistan side, Rashid Khan, has created a massive record in the shortest format during their victory by 38 runs against the United Arab Emirates in the ongoing Tri-series at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. The leg spinner achieved the record in 25 fewer innings than the long-time record holder, the New Zealand pacer, Tim Southee.

Rashid is now the current leading T20I wicket-taker in the shortest format with 165 scalps in 98 innings at an average of under 14 and a strike rate of 13.57 with an economy rate of just over six, thanks to eight four-wicket hauls and a couple of five-wicket hauls at the best figure of 5/3 in an inning.

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Southee stays at the second position with 164 wickets, while Ish Sodhi remains at the number three with 150 wickets in 121 T20I innings. Bangladesh’s former captain and veteran all-rounder, Shakib Al Hasan, is at number four with 149 wickets in 126 innings, with his team-mate, Mustafizur Rahman, remaining at number five with 142 scalps in 112 innings.

Rashid Khan becomes leading wicket-taker in T20Is

Rashid achieved the feat during the game against the United Arab Emirates. Batting first, they posted 188/4 in their allotted 20 overs in the first innings, with both Sediqullah Atal and Ibrahim Zadran celebrating their respective half-centuries. At number six, Karim Janat drilled an unbeaten 23 runs in just 10 balls at a strike rate of 230 with the help of a pair of boundaries and a pair of sixes.

In reply, UAE captain, Muhammed Waseem, smashed 67 runs in just 37 balls, smashing four boundaries and six sixes at a strike rate of 181.08, while their wicket-keeper batter, Rahul Chopra, smashed an undefeated 52 runs in 35 balls at a strike rate of around 150. Rashid was the best bowler of the evening with 3/21 in four overs at an economy rate of 5.20.

Rashid is also the leading wicket-taker in the T20s. In his 10-year career, the leg spinner has bagged 661 wickets in 484 innings at an average of 18.53 and a strike rate of 16.08 and an economy rate of 6.59, with four five-wicket hauls and 17 four-wicket hauls.