Shaheen Shah Afridi is leading Pakistan’s fast bowling attack in their second Super 8s match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. In the match taking place at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, the left-arm
pacer picked up a wicket on the first ball of England’s innings in the 165-run chase. He got rid of Phil Salt, who was caught behind by wicketkeeper Usman Khan for a golden duck. In his second over of the match, Shaheen picked up one more wicket. On the third ball, he accounted for the dismissal of Jos Buttler. Like Salt, Buttler was also caught behind by Usman.
The wicket of Buttler helped Shaheen break Tim Southee’s record of taking most T20I wickets in the powerplay. Southee, who finished his T20I career with 164 wickets in 126 matches played from 2008 to 2024, dismissed 58 batters in the powerplay. On the other hand, Shaheen, who is playing his 102nd T20I match for the Men in Green on Tuesday, now has 59 wickets to his credit.
In the list of bowlers with most wickets in the powerplay in T20Is, Shaheen and Southee are followed by Arshdeep Singh. In 80 T20I matches played so far for Team India, Arshdeep has dismissed 53 batters in the powerplay.
Most T20I wickets in powerplay
| PLAYER | COUNTRY | MATCHES | WICKETS | WICKETS IN POWERPLAY |
| Shaheen Shah Afridi | Pakistan | 102* | 133* | 59* |
| Tim Southee | New Zealand | 126 | 164 | 58 |
| Arshdeep Singh | India | 80 | 123 | 53 |
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar | India | 87 | 90 | 47 |
| Josh Hazlewood | Australia | 60 | 79 | 46 |
The wicket of Buttler in Pallekele also helped Shaheen equal Haris Rauf’s tally of most wickets for Pakistan in T20Is. Rauf, who was ignored by Pakistani selectors, has 133 wickets to his credit in 94 T20I matches, whereas Shaheen has dismissed 133 batters in 102 matches.
If he manages to take even one more wicket in the ongoing match against England, then he will take the No. 1 position.
Most wickets for Pakistan in T20Is
| PLAYER | MATCHES | WICKETS | BEST FIGURES | 5-WKT HAULS |
| Shaheen Shah Afridi | 102* | 133* | 4/22 | 0 |
| Haris Rauf | 94 | 133 | 4/18 | 0 |
| Shadab Khan | 123* | 123* | 4/8 | 0 |
| Mohammad Nawaz | 97* | 98* | 5/18 | 2 |
| Shahid Afridi | 98 | 97 | 4/11 | 0 |
The world record for taking the most wickets in T20Is is in the name of Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan. In 115 T20I matches played so far, Rashid has picked up 193 wickets so far. He is followed by Southee, who finished his career with 164 wickets, and New Zealand’s Ish Sodhi is third on the list with 162 wickets to his name.
