In a historic moment for Afghanistan cricket, star leg-spinner Rashid Khan has ascended to the top as the leading wicket-taker in Asia Cup T20I history. This remarkable achievement occurred during a crucial Group B encounter against Bangladesh at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
Rashid showcased his exceptional bowling skills, claiming two vital wickets for just 26 runs in his four-over spell. His outstanding performance propelled him to 14 wickets in 10 matches across Asia Cup T20Is, boasting an impressive average of 18.00 and a personal best of 3/22 in the tournament.
Previously holding the record, India’s pace maestro Bhuvneshwar Kumar now ranks second, having secured 13 wickets from six matches at an incredible average of 9.46, including a formidable five-wicket haul (5/4).
Khan’s dominance against Bangladesh has been particularly noteworthy throughout his career, amassing 24 wickets in 12 matches at an outstanding average of 10.75 and an economical rate of 5.60.
During this pivotal match, Afghanistan’s formidable bowling attack, featuring Rashid alongside Noor Ahmad, Mohammad Nabi, and Allah Ghazanfar, was put to the test by a resilient Bangladesh batting lineup.
Bangladesh began their innings with a strong start, as openers Saif Hassan (30 runs) and Tanzid Hasan (52 runs) forged a solid 63-run partnership. However, the dynamics of the game shifted significantly after Saif’s departure, leading to a noticeable slowdown in the scoring rate, with captain Litton Das struggling to find momentum.
Despite reaching a promising 87/1 at the halfway stage, Bangladesh’s scoring rate dipped considerably in the latter half of their innings.
Towards the end, Towhid Hridoy provided some impetus with a contribution of 26 runs from 20 balls, supported by Nurul Hasan’s quickfire 12 runs off 6 deliveries. These late efforts allowed Bangladesh to post a respectable total of 154/5.
Ultimately, Bangladesh’s innings unfolded in two distinct phases: an aggressive initial powerplay followed by a challenging middle and death overs period where they found it difficult to accelerate against Afghanistan’s disciplined bowling.