Shakib Al Hasan, the world’s best all-rounder, has made the record for the highest number of wickets (108 wickets) in international Twenty20 cricket in the first match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021. Earlier, Sri Lankan legend pacer Lasith Malinga held the record by picking up 107 wickets.
Shakib came to play on the field yesterday with 106 wickets in the T20I cricket. The all-rounder has taken a double-wicket in the 11th over of the innings after his team winning the toss against Scotland in the 2nd match of the opening day of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021, that over was the 2nd over of his in the match.
Shakib picked up the wicket of Richie Berrington of Scotland and found his name next to Malinga. He then picked up the wicket of Michael Leask and set a world record for the highest wicket in the history of the International T20s. Now he has got 108 wickets next to his name.
He was wicketless in the last two matches against New Zealand in the T20I cricket. In franchise cricket, he did not get a wicket even in the final of IPL 2021. But the world’s best all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has returned to the World Cup field as usual.
Shakib took the first wicket in Bangladesh’s first T20I match against Zimbabwe in November 2006. He then played 42 matches and touched the milestone of the first 50 wickets in January 2016 against Zimbabwe. He had to play 42 matches more to get the next 50 wickets. However, it took Shakib only 5 years to get the next 50 wickets.
Apart from Shakib-Malinga, no one has taken 100 wickets in T20I cricket. However, Afghanistan’s magical leg-spinner Rashid Khan is very much closer to them. He has scalped 95 wickets playing just 51 matches. He may have a wicket century in this World Cup.
Highest wicket-taker in T20I matches
1. Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh) – 108 wickets in 89 matches, best bowling 5/20
2. Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka) – 107 wickets in 84 matches, best bowling ⅚
3. Tim Southee (New Zealand) – 99 wickets in 83 matches, best bowling 5/18
4. Shahid Afridi (Pakistan) – 98 wickets in 99 matches, best bowling 4/11
5. Rashid Khan (Afghanistan) – 95 wickets in 51 matches, best bowling 5/3
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