Johannesburg [South Africa], February 8: Afghanistan’s star leg-spinner, Rashid Khan, currently representing MI Cape Town in the ongoing SA20, expressed his satisfaction after becoming the leading wicket-taker in T20 cricket. With 633 wickets, Rashid overtook West Indies legend Dwayne Bravo to claim the top spot in the shortest format of the game. His landmark achievement came during MI Cape Town’s Qualifier One match against Paarl Royals at Gqeberha.
Speaking to ESPNCricinfo ahead of the SA20 final, Rashid reflected on the immense pride he felt in becoming the highest wicket-taker in T20 cricket, an honor that was previously held by Bravo for eight years. Rashid credited his rise to his determination and never imagined he would reach such heights when he first started playing.
“To have this record under my name now, especially when I look at my career, it’s just nine years. I never thought I would be playing T20 internationals and franchise leagues all around the world,” he said. Rashid added that he felt incredibly grateful for his journey, considering how far he has come since 2014-15, when he first started playing professionally.
After breaking the record, Rashid spoke with Bravo, who expressed immense joy and support for the Afghan spinner. “He was so happy and said, ‘You are the one who would break this record. You totally deserve all this,'” Rashid recalled.
Looking ahead, Rashid set his sights on reaching 1,000 T20 wickets. “It’s going to be massive to get 1,000 wickets. If I stay fit and continue playing the way I am for the next 3-4 years, I feel like I can get there,” he said. Achieving 1,000 wickets in T20 cricket would be a remarkable milestone for Rashid, and he expressed excitement at the thought of having four digits to his name in the format.
Rashid also reflected on his best performances, naming a few standout spells in his T20 career. The first was his 4/23 against Bangladesh in the 2022 T20 World Cup, where he helped Afghanistan defend just 115 to seal a spot in the semifinals. His other notable spells included 3/19 against Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2018 IPL Qualifier 2 and his 6/17 for Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League.
He also fondly recalled Afghanistan’s semifinal appearance in the 2022 T20 World Cup, where they lost to South Africa. “It was one of the biggest moments of my career. We were so close to the final, and I still feel bad about that match. If the wicket was better, both teams could have played much better and it would have been one of the best games for us,” he said.
Rashid’s impressive record continues to shine as he remains one of the most feared bowlers in T20 cricket. With his eyes set on the 1,000-wicket milestone, his journey in the format continues to inspire fans worldwide.