Afghanistan’s cricket captain, Rashid Khan, etched his name in history by becoming the first player to reach 700 wickets in T20 cricket. He accomplished this feat during a group-stage match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 against the United Arab Emirates at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Monday. Rashid claimed his landmark wicket during the 16th over of the UAE innings, dismissing Muhammad Arfan for a hit-wicket while attempting a reverse sweep. Arfan left the crease without scoring after facing just two deliveries. Rashid concluded the match with figures of 1 for 24 over four overs, aiding Afghanistan in restricting the UAE to 160 runs for 9 wickets in their 20 overs after opting to bowl first. With Arfan’s dismissal, Rashid not only secured the match but also achieved the unprecedented milestone in just 513 innings.

Remarkable Statistics

Rashid Khan boasts an impressive bowling average of 18.51 and an economy rate of 6.59. Additionally, he has recorded four five-wicket hauls in his T20 career, positioning him well ahead of his contemporaries in the format. Former West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo is second in the all-time wicket-takers list with 631 wickets. Among currently active players, Sunil Narine trails Rashid with 613 wickets, placing him third overall.

Leading the T20 International Charts

In T20 Internationals, Rashid leads the pack with 191 wickets. The retired New Zealand seamer Tim Southee follows in second place with 164 wickets, while another New Zealander, Ish Sodhi, is third with 162 wickets to his name. This achievement underscores Rashid’s dominance in the shortest format of the game, highlighting his vital role in his team’s performances.

Afghanistan Registers First Win of the Tournament

On the same day, Afghanistan secured a vital five-wicket victory over the UAE, marking their first win of the T20 World Cup 2026. Chasing a target of 161 runs, Afghanistan faced early setbacks, losing both Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Gulbadin Naib during the powerplay. However, Ibrahim Zadran steadied the innings with a well-made half-century, scoring 53 runs off 41 balls. Contributions from Darwish Rasooli, who made 33 runs off 23 deliveries, and Azmatullah Omarzai, who remained unbeaten on 40 runs off just 21 balls, helped Afghanistan successfully chase down the target.

Upcoming Challenges for Afghanistan

Following this victory, Afghanistan climbed to third place in the tournament standings, with one win out of three matches. Their next challenge will be against the Canada national cricket team in their final group match, scheduled for February 19 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.