Stats: Youngest players to captain a team in T20 cricket

The Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan has bagged numerous records in his short career already and has become one of the youngest captains in Twenty20 history. The 18-year-old recently became the first player in the five editions of Caribbean Premier League (CPL) to bag a hat-trick and also the youngest ever in Twenty20 cricket with a hat-trick.

Rashid led the Band-e-Amir Dragons in the Afghanistan’s Twenty20 league, the Shpageeza Cricket League which started on September 11 (Monday). Afghanistan, who earlier got the first-class status for their domestic tournament this year even before becoming a full member nation along with Ireland, got an opportunity to conduct the league which attains a place in official records.

On Tuesday, in the 3rd match of this T20 league, the Dragons side, led by Rashid took over Mis Ainak Knights at the Alokozay Kabul International Cricket Ground. Thus, at an age of 18 years and 357 days, he became only the 3rd youngest player ever to lead a team in the Twenty20 format and the youngest Afghanistan player.

Rashid happens to face his teammate in the IPL in his first match as captain, Mohammad Nabi, who also plays for Sunrisers Hyderabad. Rashid picked up 3/22 in his four overs and score two runs with the bat. His team fell short in the 140-run chase as they were bowled out for 133, losing last three wickets for just two runs when they needed nine from 12 balls.

Pakistan’s Taimur Ali is the youngest player to lead a team in T20 cricket when he led Quetta Bears team against Faisalabad Wolves at an age of 17y 358d in the RBS Twenty20 Cup in 2009. Sri Lanka’s Dinesh Chandimal became the 2nd youngest T20 captain at an age of 18y 151d in 2008 when he led the Schools Invitation XI against Basnahira South in SLC Inter-Provincial Twenty20 tournament. South Africa’s Bradley Dial is the only other player in the format to lead a side before turning 19 as he led Gauteng in the CSA Provincial T20 Challenge against Namibia.

Youngest players to captain a team in Twenty20 cricket:

(Stats as on September 13, 2017)