Lesser-known records of Shaheen Afridi in T20I cricket
Pakistan are among the top contenders to lift the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by West Indies and USA. The tournament will be underway on June 1. Shaheen Afridi will be critical to their chances as the left-arm pacer has been lethal in the format. Here we decode his unique records in T20Is.
Youngest pacer to 50 wickets
At 22 years and 211 days, Afridi became the youngest pacer to claim 50 T20I wickets. The left-arm pacer accomplished the landmark during the 2022 T20 WC in Australia. He broke the record of Australia women's cricketer Ellyse Perry who attained the feat aged 23 years and 144 days. Afridi also became the fourth youngest bowler to take 50 T20I scalps.
Best economy rate among Pakistan pacers (T20 WCs)
In T20 WCs, Shaheen owns 18 wickets from 13 games at an average of 18. His economy of 6.58 at the event is the best among Pakistan pacers with at least 15 wickets at the event. Haris Rauf trails Shaheen in this regard with an economy of 7.06. The latter overall owns the sixth-best economy rate among pacers in the tournament (Minimum: 15 scalps).
Most T20I wickets versus NZ
Shaheen has cherished tackling New Zealand batters in the T20I format as he boasts 33 wickets against them in 21 games at an economy of 8.14. One of his two four-fers in the format also came against the Kiwis. Notably, he is the highest wicket-taker versus NZ in T20Is. Shaheen's compatriot Haris trails him in this regard with 32 scalps.
Third-most first-over wickets in T20Is
As per ESPNcricinfo, Shaheen has returned with 15 T20I wickets in the first over across 42 innings. These are the joint-third-most first-over wickets in the format among full-member team bowlers. While Shaheen sits at par with England's David Willey, only India's Bhuvneshwar Kumar (18) and New Zealand's Tim Southee (16) own more scalps in this regard.
