Afghanistan captain and star spinner Rashid Khan etched his name into the record books by becoming the highest wicket-taker in Men’s T20 Internationals during his side’s clash against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Sharjah on Monday, September 1. The leg-spinner delivered a masterclass, claiming figures of 3/11 in his four overs and spearheading Afghanistan’s 38-run victory.
With those wickets, Rashid Khan overtook former New Zealand pacer Tim Southee to reach 165 T20I scalps, the most in the format’s history.
Rashid’s record-breaking moment came with the final ball of his spell, when he found the outside edge of Dhruv Parashar, pouched safely by substitute fielder Mohammad Ishaq. Earlier, he had removed Ethan D’Souza and Asif Khan, the latter dismissal drawing him level with Southee before sealing the outright record. His efforts triggered a middle-order collapse that proved decisive after Sharafuddin Ashraf dismissed the dangerous Muhammad Waseem, who had struck a blazing 67 off just 37 deliveries.
Most wickets in Men’s T20Is
| Sr. No. | Player | Team | Wickets | Average | Economy |
| 1 | Rashid Khan | Afghanistan | 165 | 13.75 | 6.07 |
| 2 | Tim Southee | New Zealand | 164 | 22.38 | 8.00 |
| 3 | Ish Sodhi | New Zealand | 150 | 22.52 | 7.95 |
| 4 | Shakib Al Hasan | Bangladesh | 149 | 20.91 | 6.81 |
| 5 | Mustafizur Rahman | Bangladesh | 142 | 20.84 | 7.30 |
* Data as of September 02, 2025
Afghanistan’s victory was built on a strong batting platform, courtesy of an 84-run partnership between Ibrahim Zadran and Sediqullah Atal. Zadran struck a fluent 63 off 40 balls, while Atal registered his maiden T20I half-century, anchoring the innings. Their foundation allowed the lower middle-order batters Karim Janat and Azmatullah Omarzai to unleash fireworks, adding 49 runs in a three-over burst that propelled Afghanistan to a competitive 188.
For the UAE, Muhammad Rohid Khan impressed with two wickets in his spell, while Rahul Chopra fought valiantly with an unbeaten 52 off 35 balls. However, the lack of consistent partnerships meant the hosts fell well short.
The fixture was part of the ongoing triangular series featuring Afghanistan, UAE, and Pakistan. Pakistan, already boasting two wins, will next face Afghanistan on Tuesday. The tournament format ensures each team meets twice, with the top two advancing to the final on September 7.
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