Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan rushed through an inexperienced Papua New Guinea middle-order to equal the record of former Pakistan cricketer Shahid Afridi. Shakib and Afridi have 39 wickets in T20 World Cup events, the most by any bowler over the years.
The left-arm spinner took four wickets for just nine runs in his four overs. His bowling figures against PNG at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground (Ministry Turf 1) are his best bowling figures in T20 World Cup events.
The four-wicket haul helped Bangladesh register a massive win in the ‘do or die’ match against PNG and qualify for the Super 12 stage. The veteran needs one more wicket to become all-time highest wicket-taker in T20 World Cups. From the current lot of bowlers, no one comes to close to his record. The 35-year-old already has nine wickets from three matches in Group B matches.
Earlier, Shakib also became the highest wicket-taker in T20Is surpassing former Sri Lankan fast bowler Lasith Malinga who has 105 wickets from 84 games. New Zealand’s Tim Southee (99 wickets) and Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan are the only two bowlers who can play catch-up with the second-ranked T20I all-rounder in the world.
Earlier, Shakib also performed with the bat scoring 46 runs from 37 runs including three boundaries. He helped Bangladesh recover from the wicket of Mohammad Naim in the first over and lay the foundation for a big total of 181/7.
