Afghanistan continued their remarkable run in Twenty20 cricket, defeating West Indies for the second consecutive day, following their under-19 World Cup triumph against the Caribbean side last Sunday.
In the first match of a three-match T20I series, held in Dubai, Afghanistan posted a commanding 38-run victory over West Indies. More significantly, Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan took another step toward becoming the first bowler in T20 history to reach 700 wickets, claiming two scalps in the match.
Batting first, Afghanistan scored 181 for 3, anchored by a stellar 162-run third-wicket partnership between Ibrahim Zadran (87) and Darwish Rasooli (84), after losing their openers cheaply for 19 runs. In response, West Indies were restricted to 143 for 3, with Rashid taking 2 wickets for 19 runs. Fellow spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman also took two, preventing the Caribbean side’s top order from settling, while pacer Ziaur Rahman claimed the remaining three wickets.
Rashid already holds the record for the fastest to 400, 500, and 600 T20 wickets. Currently, he has 691 wickets in 507 innings, requiring just 9 more to reach the 700-mark. Only two other bowlers have surpassed 600 wickets in T20s: Dwayne Bravo (631 in 546 innings) and Sunil Narine (613 in 573 innings).
| Bowler | Innings | Wickets | Average | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rashid Khan (AFG) | 507 | 691 | 18.55 | Leg Spin |
| Dwayne Bravo (WI) | 546 | 631 | – | Pace/Allround |
| Sunil Narine (WI) | 573 | 613 | – | Spin |
| Imran Tahir (SA) | 430 | 570 | – | Leg Spin |
| Andre Russell (WI) | 521 | 508 | – | Pace/Allround |
| Shakib Al Hasan (BAN) | 461 | 507 | – | Allround |
| Mustafizur Rahman(BAN) | 319 | 410 | – | Pace |
Afghanistan will play two more matches against West Indies in this series. While Rashid may or may not achieve the milestone here, it is highly likely he will reach it during the T20 World Cup, which begins on 7 February in India and Sri Lanka. Afghanistan’s first group-stage match will be against New Zealand on 8 February in Chennai.
Rashid, reflecting on the series win, said, “The team is fit, and we hope to perform well in the World Cup. With the right combination and coordination, we aim to execute our best plans in India.”
This victory not only reinforces Afghanistan’s growing stature in T20 cricket but also signals Rashid Khan’s pursuit of a historic milestone, underscoring his dominance as one of the world’s premier spin bowlers.