Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf set a new record in the first T20I against Zimbabwe on Sunday, becoming his country's highest wicket-taker in the shortest format.
Following a three-match ODI series, Pakistan and Zimbabwe faced off in the first of three T20Is at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. The tourists elected to bat first and posted a competitive 165-4 thanks in large part to an unbeaten 65-run stand off 34 balls between Tayyab Tahir (39*) and Irfan Khan Niazi (25*).
In reply, Zimbabwe looked on track at 85-3 after 10 overs, before Rauf struck three balls later, in his second over, to remove Ryan Burl. The hosts then slipped to 95-6 before folding for 108 in 15.3 overs, Rauf finishing with 2-17 from his three overs and going off the field with a new honour to his name – Pakistan's highest wicket-taker in men's T20Is.
Most men's T20I wickets for Pakistan: Haris Rauf moves to No.1
Rauf is one of only two Pakistani men to have taken over 100 T20I wickets. Leg spinner Shadab Khan, not selected for the tour of Zimbabwe, is the other. He still has a way to go before he can claim to have taken the most T20I wickets for Pakistan, though.
Pakistan women's team stalwart and former captain Nida Dar is the country's highest wicket-taker in the format, with a staggering 144 scalps to her name in 160 matches across a 14-year playing career. Only Megan Schutt for Australia Women (145) and Tim Southee for New Zealand Men (164) have taken more wickets than Dar in T20Is.
Name | Career Span | Matches | Wickets | Best Figures |
Haris Rauf | 2020-2024 | 76 | 109 | 4-18 |
Shadab Khan | 2017-2024 | 104 | 107 | 4-8 |
Shaheen Shah Afridi | 2018-2024 | 73 | 97 | 4-22 |
Shahid Afridi | 2006-2016 | 98 | 97 | 4-11 |
Saeed Ajmal | 2009-2015 | 64 | 85 | 4-19 |
Umar Gul | 2007-2016 | 60 | 85 | 5-6 |
Imad Wasim | 2015-2024 | 75 | 73 | 5-14 |
Mohammad Amir | 2009-2024 | 62 | 71 | 4-13 |
Mohammad Hafeez | 2006-2021 | 119 | 61 | 4-10 |
Hasan Ali | 2016-2024 | 51 | 60 | 4-18 |
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