Sharjah, UAE — Rashid Khan has etched his name into cricketing history, becoming the leading wicket-taker in men’s T20 Internationals during Afghanistan’s 38-run victory over the UAE on Monday night in Sharjah.
The Afghan leg-spinner claimed 3/11 in four overs, surpassing New Zealand’s Tim Southee to move to 165 wickets in the format. Rashid’s latest milestone came as he led a middle-order collapse for the hosts, further solidifying his status as a modern-day T20 great.
Rashid Khan leads the charge in Sharjah
Bowling in tandem with Sharafuddin Ashraf — who dismissed UAE opener Muhammad Waseem (67 off 37) — Rashid removed key batter Asif Khan for just 1, four balls later. The early dismissal of Ethan D’Souza (12) had already set the tone, and it was the wicket of Dhruv Parashar (1), caught by substitute fielder Mohammad Ishaq, that sealed Rashid’s place at the top of the all-time men’s T20I wicket list.
Top 5 wicket-takers in men’s T20Is
| Player | Team | Wickets | Average | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rashid Khan | Afghanistan | 165 | 13.75 | 6.07 |
| Tim Southee | New Zealand | 164 | 22.38 | 8.00 |
| Ish Sodhi | New Zealand | 150 | 22.52 | 7.95 |
| Shakib Al Hasan | Bangladesh | 149 | 20.91 | 6.81 |
| Mustafizur Rahman | Bangladesh | 142 | 20.84 | 7.30 |
Afghanistan bounce back in tri-series
The victory marked Afghanistan’s first win in the tri-series, following their opening 39-run loss to Pakistan. The Afghan batting effort was anchored by a crucial 84-run partnership between Ibrahim Zadran and Sediqullah Atal, laying the platform for a strong finish.
Karim Janat and Azmatullah Omarzai — the 2024 ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year — provided the late fireworks, adding 49 runs in just three overs to lift Afghanistan to a formidable total of 188 runs.
Despite a fighting knock of 52* from 35 balls by Rahul Chopra, UAE couldn’t build effective partnerships and struggled against Rashid and the Afghan attack.
“It’s always special to contribute to the team’s success — records come as a bonus,” Rashid said post-match.
The leg-spinner’s dominance in the format continues to be a cornerstone of Afghanistan’s rise in international cricket, and this latest feat further boosts their confidence heading deeper into the tri-series.
