NEW DELHI: Top leg-spinner
Rashid Khan
made history on Friday during the opening
T20I
clash against
Ireland
in Sharjah, securing the best figures by an
Afghanistan
captain in T20Is.
This remarkable achievement surpassed
Nawroz Mangal
's record, which had stood for over 14 years. Additionally, Rashid reached another milestone, becoming the first Afghanistan player to claim 350 international wickets.
Mangal claimed figures of 4-0-23-3 against
William Porterfield
’s Ireland in the final of the World T20 Qualifiers way back in February 2010.
Rashid's exceptional spell, delivering 3 wickets for a mere 19 runs in four overs, showcased his exceptional skill and highlighted his crucial role in Afghanistan's bowling lineup.
His key dismissals included
Paul Stirling
,
Curtis Campher
, and Gareth Delany, contributing significantly to restricting Ireland to a modest total of 149 for 6 in their allotted 20 overs.
Despite Rashid's stellar performance, Afghanistan faced a setback in their pursuit of victory, ultimately succumbing to a 38-run defeat against a resilient Irish side.
As the series progresses, Afghanistan will be determined to regroup and stage a comeback in the upcoming second T20I showdown scheduled for Sunday, March 17. With Rashid's form and leadership, Afghanistan remain poised to bounce back and make their mark in the series.
Best bowling figures by Afghanistan captain in T20Is
- Rashid Khan: 4-0-19-3 against Ireland (Sharjah) in 2024
- Nawroz Mangal: 4-0-23-3 against Ireland (Dubai) in 2010
- Gulbadin Naib: 4-0-28-3 against Sri Lanka (Hangzhou) in 2023
- Mohammad Nabi: 4-0-12-2 against Scotland (Sharjah) in 2013
- Mohammad Nabi: 4-0-14-2 against Sri Lanka (Dubai) 2022
(With IANS inputs)
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