Pakistan suffered an 11-run loss to South Africa in first T20I but their left-arm pacer Shaheen Afridi scripted history at Kingsmead, Durban as he became the youngest to take 100 wickets in all three formats of the game (Test, ODI and T20I). Afridi is the first Pakistan bowler to take 100 wickets across formats. Also, he is the youngest bowler in the world to achieve the rare feat.
New Zealand's Tim Southee held the previous record. The Kiwi pacer completed 100 wickets in all formats when he was 32 years and 319 days old. Only two other bowlers have achieved this feat. Bangladesh's Shakib Al Hasan did it when he was 34 years and 319 days old. Sri Lanka's Lasith Malinga was 36 years and nine days old when he achieved the milestone.
In the first T20I of the three-T20I series, Shaheen struck with the third ball he bowled. Rassie van der Dussen inside edged it to his stumps and departed for a golden duck. He was brought back into the attack in the 14th over as David Miller was dominating the proceedings. With fifth ball of his third over, he got the wicket of Miller who scored 82 runs from 40 balls. He was caught at deep mid-wicket by Irfan Khan.
Third Pakistan bowler to take 100 T20I wickets
On the last ball of the 16th over, he completed 100 T20I wickets by trapping Nqabayomzi Peter in front of the stumps. Shaheen surpassed his father-in-law's tally of wickets to complete 100 T20I scalps from 74 games. He became the third Pakistan bowler to achieve the milestone. Out-of-favour leg-spinner Shadab Khan is ahead of him with 107 wickets from 104 T20Is. His teammate Haris Rauf has 110 wickets from 78 T20Is.
Shaheen's wickets in other two formats
The young pacer has 116 wickets in Tests from 31 games at an average of 27.88 including four five-wicket hauls. In ODIs, he has 112 wickets from 56 games at an average of 23.13. His T20I bowling average is 20.87.
Shaheen's chance to surpass Arshdeep
With two more T20Is left in the series, Shaheen has a chance to surpass India's Arshdeep Singh and become the leading wicket-taker in against South Africa in T20Is. So far, he has 13 wickets from 11 T20Is. Arshdeep is on top with 18 wickets from 10 T20Is.
