Rashid Khan becomes first bowler to reach 200 men's T20I wickets

Rashid Khan became the first bowler to claim 200 wickets in men's T20Is during Afghanistan's second T20I against Zimbabwe at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Thursday. He needed one wicket to reach the landmark and achieved it when Zimbabwe wicketkeeper-batter Tadiwanashe Marumani was trapped lbw for two while chasing 222.

The 28-year-old reached the mark in his 120th T20I appearance, further extending his lead at the top of the all-time men's T20I wicket-takers list. He had already become the leading wicket-taker in men's T20Is in September 2025, overtaking New Zealand's Tim Southee, and earlier this year he crossed the 700-wicket mark in overall T20 cricket. Rashid made his international debut against Zimbabwe in October 2015.

Rashid's achievement was marked by the Afghanistan Cricket Board on Twitter: "A HISTORY-MAKING MOMENT! WICKET NO. 200 IN T20I CRICKET! @rashidkhan_19 etches his name in the history books and becomes the first-ever player in the world to reach 200 wickets in men’s T20I cricket! #AfghanAtalan | #AFGvZIM | #GloriousNationVictoriousTeam https://t.co/GZiDGEv9n2"— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) October 29, 2026.

The Afghanistan leg-spinner's figures include 150 wickets taken in Asia, with 79 of those in the UAE, and he holds the record for most wickets against a single opponent in men's T20Is with 45 dismissals of Ireland batters. He has taken 38 wickets against Zimbabwe, and has removed Ryan Burl seven times; only Jersey's Charles Perchard has dismissed an individual batter more often, having sent Guernsey's Matthew Stokes back eight times.

Rashid's wickets show a clear concentration outside the powerplay: 142 of his 200 wickets have come between overs seven and 16 and a further 56 have arrived in the final four overs, while he has taken just two powerplay wickets from 102 deliveries. He has recorded four or more wickets in an innings on 11 occasions, two more than any other bowler.

The milestone was part of a high-scoring night for Afghanistan, who recovered from 5/4 to post 221/7. Azmatullah Omarzai scored 116 off 50 balls including five fours and 12 sixes, and added 142 for the sixth wicket with Ijaz Ahmadzai, who made 52 off 27; Rashid finished with an unbeaten 25 off six deliveries.

Zimbabwe's chase featured a century from captain Sikandar Raza, but the visitors fell 19 runs short. Afghanistan's win secured an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series and extended their winning run against Zimbabwe to eight consecutive T20I series.