Haris Rauf overtakes Shadab Khan’s T20I record
Haris Rauf Becomes Pakistan’s Leading T20I Wicket-Taker in Victory Over Zimbabwe
Bulawayo: Haris Rauf etched his name in history by becoming Pakistan’s leading wicket-taker in T20Is during the opening match of the three-game series against Zimbabwe. Rauf surpassed Shadab Khan’s previous record of 107 wickets, taking his 109th T20I wicket in just his 76th match. Shadab had reached the milestone in 104 games.
Rauf’s remarkable consistency has made him a key player in Pakistan’s T20 setup. Left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi follows closely with 97 wickets in 73 matches, needing just three more to join the 100-wicket club.
Pakistan’s Top T20I Wicket-Takers:
- Haris Rauf – 109 wickets in 76 matches
- Shadab Khan – 107 wickets in 104 matches
- Shaheen Shah Afridi – 97 wickets in 73 matches
- Shahid Afridi – 97 wickets in 98 matches
- Umar Gul – 85 wickets in 60 matches
- Saeed Ajmal – 85 wickets in 64 matches
Globally, New Zealand’s Tim Southee holds the record with 164 T20I wickets in 126 matches.
Match Recap:
Pakistan batted first after winning the toss, posting 165/4. Their innings got off to a shaky start, with Omair Bin Yousuf departing early for 16 runs. Saim Ayub and Usman Khan steadied the innings with scores of 24 and 39, respectively. However, skipper Salman Ali Agha struggled, managing only 13 runs off 19 balls.
A late surge from Tayyab Tahir (39* off 25 balls) and Irfan Khan (27* off 15 balls) ensured Pakistan reached a competitive total.
Zimbabwe’s chase faltered under relentless pressure from Pakistan’s bowlers. Despite efforts from captain Sikandar Raza (39 runs) and Tadiwanashe Marumani (33 runs), the hosts collapsed for just 108 runs in 15.4 overs. Apart from these two, no Zimbabwean batter reached double digits.
Pakistan’s spin duo Abrar Ahmed and Sufiyan Muqeem shone with three wickets each, while Haris Rauf and Jahandad Khan contributed with two and one wicket, respectively.
Player of the Match:
Tayyab Tahir was named Player of the Match for his crucial knock that anchored Pakistan’s innings.
Series Update:
Pakistan’s dominant 57-run win gives them a 1-0 lead in the series. The second match will take place on December 3, 2024, at the same venue.
