5 records created by Afghanistan across formats in 2021

Afghanistan played just two bilateral series this year against Ireland and Zimbabwe in the UAE and participated in the T20 World Cup which was also held in the UAE. In January they competed with the Irishmen in the three-match 50-overs series where the Afghans blanked Ireland 3-0.

Paul Stirling was the star of the series as he scored 285 runs in three games including two centuries and was given the Player of the series award. The Asian team then faced Zimbabwe in the desert for the Test and T20I series. The African country got the better of the Afghans in the first Test with Asghar Afghan’s men making a comeback in the second Test to draw the series 1-1.

Zimbabwe got thumped 3-0 in the T20I series as Karim Janat was declared the Player of the Series for his all-around performances. Afghanistan beat Scotland and Namibia in the T20 World Cup but losing three matches against the big three teams didn’t help their cause as they didn’t qualify for the semi-finals.

Meanwhile, here are some of the records created by Afghanistan across formats in 2021:

1. Rashid Khan became the second spinner to reach 100 wickets in T20Is

During the T20 World Cup, spinner Rashid Khan became the second spinner after Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan to achieve 100 wickets landmark in the T20Is. Overall Rashid became the fourth bowler to reach the milestone with Shakib Al Hasan (117), Tim Southee (111), and Lasith Malinga (107) ahead of him. Rashid Khan has taken 103 wickets with a scintillating average of 12.73, economy rate of 6.20 and best bowling figures of 5/3.

2. Rashid Khan is the fastest to 100 scalps in T20Is

Afghanistan gem Rashid Khan became the fastest bowler to 100 wickets in the T20I format. He achieved the landmark in his 53rd match, while Sri Lanka’s Lasith Malinga had got to the milestone in 76 T20Is. New Zealand’s fast bowler Tim Southee and Bangladesh’s all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan took same number of games (84) to reach the feat. In recent years, Rashid Khan has been one of the world’s best T20 bowler and has become an integral part for the national side as well as for the teams which he plays for in various T20 leagues all around the world.

3. Mohammad Nabi has won the most POTM awards in T20Is

With 13 Player of the Match awards in the shortest international format, Afghanistan’s all-rounder Mohammad Nabi has won the award most times. In 86 matches, he has also received the Player of the Series award twice. His closest competitor is former India captain Virat Kohli who has 12 awards to his name in 95 matches. From his team, wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Shahzad is behind Nabi with nine awards.

4. Mujeeb Ur Rahman took best figures for Afghanistan in any T20 WC match

With figures of 5/20 against Scotland at Sharjah in the mega event, Mujeeb Ur Rahman recorded the best bowling figures by any Afghanistan bowler in a T20 World Cup match. Interestingly the second best figures was also achieved in the same match when Rashid Khan spun his web to achieve figures of 4/9 against the Scots who had no answers whatsoever in front of the Afghan spin twins. Mujeeb was on a roll that night as he bowled 17 dot balls out of the legitimate 24.

5. Rashid Khan is joint-top with Shakib Al Hasan and Umar Gul for 6 four wicket-hauls in T20Is

One of the best spinners in the world right now, Rashid Khan now has the same number of four wicket-hauls (6) as that of Shakib Al Hasan and former Pakistan pacer Umar Gul. He took his sixth four-for against Scotland in the Super 12 stage of the T20 World Cup. Umar Gul had those hauls in 60 matches that he had played while Shakib achieved the feat in 94 matches. Rashid Khan has achieved these four wicket-hauls in just 56 T20 internationals that he has played.