Star Pakistani fast bowler Shaheen Afridi achieved a massive milestone during the first T20I of the ongoing three-match series against South Africa on Tuesday, December 10. Shaheen Afridi became the first Pakistani bowler and fourth overall in the world to complete 100 wickets in all three formats of cricket.
The Mohammad Rizwan-led team started the T20I series in South Africa with an 11-run loss at Kingsmead in Durban. Shaheen was the best performer for Pakistan, finishing with figures of 3 for 21 in four overs. However, it was not enough for the visiting team to restrict the Proteas to a below-par score.
Shaheen Afridi Completes 100 T20I Wickets in First Match vs South Africa
Shaheen Afridi entered the match with 97 T20I wickets. The left-arm pace bowler completed his 100th dismissal with a three-wicket haul in the series opener. He reached this milestone in 74 matches and joined the list of Pakistani bowlers Shadab Khan and Haris Rauf, who have taken 100 wickets in T20Is.
Most Wickets for Pakistan in T20Is
| Player | Matches | Wickets | Average | Economy | Best Bowling (BBI) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haris Rauf | 78 | 110 | 20.76 | 8.16 | 4/18 |
| Shadab Khan | 104 | 107 | 23.57 | 7.24 | 4/8 |
| Shaheen Shah Afridi | 74 | 100 | 20.87 | 7.76 | 4/22 |
| Shahid Afridi | 98 | 97 | 24.35 | 6.61 | 4/11 |
| Umar Gul | 60 | 85 | 16.97 | 7.19 | 5/6 |
| Saeed Ajmal | 64 | 85 | 17.83 | 6.36 | 4/19 |
Shaheen Afridi Becomes First Pakistan Bowler to Achieve Rare Feat
Shaheen Afridi, who made his international debut for Pakistan on April 3, 2018, joined an elite list of bowlers taking 100 or more wickets across all three formats.
The left-arm pacer has 116 wickets in 31 Test matches, 112 wickets in 56 ODIs, and 100 wickets in T20Is. Tim Southee, Shakib Al Hasan, and Lasith Malinga are the only other bowlers to achieve 100 wickets in all three formats.
Bowlers to Take 100 Wickets Each in Tests, ODIs, and T20Is
| Player | Country | Tests | ODIs | T20Is | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tim Southee | New Zealand | 389 | 221 | 164 | 774 |
| Shakib Al Hasan | Bangladesh | 246 | 317 | 149 | 712 |
| Lasith Malinga | Sri Lanka | 101 | 338 | 107 | 546 |
| Shaheen Shah Afridi | Pakistan | 116 | 112 | 100 | 328 |
Shaheen Becomes the Fourth-Fastest Fast Bowler to Reach 100 T20I Wickets
Shaheen first dismissed Rassie van der Dussen for a golden duck. He later removed David Miller, who scored 82 off 40 balls. Shaheen completed his 100th T20I wicket by trapping Nqabayomzi Peter lbw. The fast bowler also became the fourth-fastest fast bowler to reach 100 wickets in T20Is.
Fastest to 100 Wickets in T20Is (Fast Bowlers)
| Player | Country | Matches |
|---|---|---|
| Haris Rauf | Pakistan | 72 |
| Mark Adair | Ireland | 73 |
| Bilal Khan | Oman | 73 |
| Shaheen Shah Afridi | Pakistan | 74 |
| Lasith Malinga | Sri Lanka | 76 |
The Men in Green couldn’t stop South Africa from posting a competitive total in the series opener. David Miller and all-rounder George Linde, who scored 48 runs off 24 balls, helped South Africa reach 183/9 in their 20 overs. Pakistan failed to chase down the target and managed only 172/8 in 20 overs.