Rashid Khan has become the first bowler to take 200 wickets in men’s T20 internationals. He reached the mark in the second T20I against Zimbabwe at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Thursday. He got there by dismissing Zimbabwe wicketkeeper-batter Tadiwanashe Marumani. Marumani made just two runs as Zimbabwe chased 222.
The milestone stretched Rashid’s lead at the top of the all-time T20I wicket-takers list. He made his international debut against Zimbabwe in October 2015. He became the format’s leading wicket-taker in September 2025. He passed New Zealand’s Tim Southee during a tri-series match against the UAE in Sharjah.
The top five on the men’s T20I wicket list now looks like this. Rashid Khan of Afghanistan has 200 wickets in 120 matches. His average is 13.99, and his economy rate is 6.12. Adil Rashid of England is next with 171 wickets in 153 matches. Ehsan Khan of Hong Kong has 165 wickets in 119 matches. Ish Sodhi of New Zealand also has 165 wickets in 142 matches. Tim Southee of New Zealand has 164 wickets in 126 matches.
Afghanistan had a terrible start and were 5/4 at one point. Then Azmatullah Omarzai rescued them. He smashed 116 off 50 balls. He hit five fours and 12 sixes. He put on 142 runs for the sixth wicket with Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai. Zimbabwe fought back in the chase. Captain Sikandar Raza scored his second T20I century. But the visitors fell 19 runs short. Raza got a warm hug from Rashid after the match. The win gave Afghanistan their eighth straight T20I series win over Zimbabwe.
Afghanistan Seal T20I Series Against Zimbabwe as Rashid Khan and Omarzai Shine
Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by 19 runs in the second T20I. The win gave them a 2-0 lead in the three-match series, so they have already won it. The big story was Rashid Khan. He became the first bowler to take 200 wickets in men’s T20 internationals. He reached the mark in his 120th T20I. England’s Adil Rashid is second on the list with 171 wickets from 153 matches.
Afghanistan were put in to bat and had a terrible start. They were 5 for 4 inside the powerplay. They lost their fifth wicket in the ninth over. Then Azmatullah Omarzai and Ijaz Ahmadzai turned things around. They put on 142 runs for the sixth wicket. That is a record for the highest stand for the sixth wicket or lower in T20I cricket.
Omarzai scored his first T20I century. He made 116 runs and hit 12 sixes and five fours. He is only the fourth Afghanistan batter to score a T20I century. Ahmadzai made 52. Afghanistan finished on 221 for 7. They became the first team in T20I history to score more than 200 after losing their first four wickets for fewer than 20 runs. It was also Afghanistan’s third-highest total in T20Is.
Zimbabwe chased 222 and found it hard to build momentum. They were 85 for 5 halfway through their innings. Captain Sikandar Raza fought back with his second T20I century. He hit five fours and nine sixes. But Zimbabwe fell 19 runs short. Afghanistan won the series with one match still to play. The result also gave Rashid his 200-wicket milestone.
FAQs
Q. Who became the first bowler to take 200 wickets in men’s T20Is?
A. Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan reached the milestone against Zimbabwe in Sharjah.
Q. How many matches did Rashid Khan need to reach 200 T20I wickets?
A. Rashid reached the milestone in his 120th T20I.
Q. How many runs did Azmatullah Omarzai score against Zimbabwe?
A. Omarzai scored 116 runs off 50 balls, including 12 sixes and five fours.
Q. How did Afghanistan recover from their poor start against Zimbabwe?
A. Omarzai and Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai added 142 runs for the sixth wicket.
Q. Did Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe in the second T20I?
A. Afghanistan won by 19 runs to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
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