Bangladesh star becomes fastest pacer to take 400 T20 wickets

Sports Tak

UPDATED: Jan 02, 2026 09:44 PM IST

Sports Tak•

UPDATED: Jan 02, 2026 09:44 PM IST

Bangladesh star becomes fastest pacer to take 400 T20 wickets

Bangladesh's ace pacer Mustafizur Rahman in this frame. (Getty)

Story Highlights:

Mustafizur Rahman became the fastest pacer to claim 400 T20 wickets

Rangpur Riders' Rahman bagged this milestone during BPL clash against Sylhet Titans

Bangladesh's left-arm speedster Mustafizur Rahman scripted history on January 2, becoming the fastest pace bowler to scalp 400 wickets in T20 cricket. Playing for the Rangpur Riders in the Bangladesh Premier League, Mustafizur entered the match against the Sylhet Titans on 399 wickets. He secured the record-breaking milestone at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium by dismissing opposition captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz.

Mustafizur Rahman becomes fastest to take 400 T20 wickets

Mustafizur achieved this feat in just his 315th match, comfortably shattering the previous record for fast bowlers held by Pakistan’s Wahab Riaz, who took 335 matches to reach the same mark. This performance cements him as one of the most prolific wicket-takers in the history of the shortest format, showcasing his longevity and lethal effectiveness.

On the overall list, Mustafizur now sits as the second-fastest player to reach the 400-wicket milestone across all bowling styles. He surpassed the legendary South African leg-spinner Imran Tahir, who reached the mark in 320 matches. Currently, only Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan remains ahead of him, having reached the landmark in a remarkable 289 games.

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With this achievement, the 30-year-old becomes the 11th bowler in T20 history to enter the exclusive 400-wicket club. He is also only the second Bangladeshi player to do so, joining veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, who reached the milestone in 353 matches back in 2022.

What's the fuss around Mustafizur Rahman?

It all came amidst all the buzz around Rahman following amid reports of atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh. Rahman’s record-breaking signing with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) has sparked a significant national debate. As a result, the pacer’s participation in IPL 2026 has become a central question for fans and officials alike, with some calling for a boycott of players from the neighboring nation.

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In response to the growing controversy, the BCCI clarified on Thursday that they have not yet received any official directive from the Indian government regarding the participation of Bangladeshi cricketers. Board sources emphasized that they are adopting a wait and watch approach, noting that while the situation is delicate, no communication has been issued to bar these players from the league. The scrutiny intensified after Rahman became the most expensive Bangladeshi player in IPL history, fetching Rs 9.20 crore at last month's auction. This high-profile acquisition led to sharp criticism from various political and religious figures, some of whom have labeled the move insensitive. For now, KKR’s plans remain unchanged as the board awaits further guidance from the Ministry of External Affairs.