Shaheen surpasses Shadab's record during Sri Lanka match

Left-arm quick Shaheen Shah Afridi climbed to second place on Pakistan's T20I wicket-taking chart, surpassing all-rounder Shadab Khan on Tuesday.

Shaheen achieved the milestone during Pakistan's crucial ACC Men's T20 Asia Cup 2025 Super Fours match against defending champions Sri Lanka, underway at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, by dismissing top-order batter Pathum Nissanka.

The left-arm pacer had 111 wickets in 89 matches heading into the ongoing fixture and took just two deliveries to draw level with Shadab as he got in-form Kusal Mendis caught at short mid-wicket.

He struck again in his next over, getting Nissanka caught behind to clinch second position on the list of most wickets for Pakistan in T20Is, led by fellow pacer Haris Rauf with 128 scalps in 92 innings.

Most wickets for Pakistan in Men's T20Is

• Haris Rauf – 130 wickets in 90 innings
• Shaheen Shah Afridi – 113 wickets in 90 innings*
• Shadab Khan – 112 wickets in 104 innings
• Shahid Afridi – 97 wickets in 96 innings
• Saeed Ajmal – 85 wickets in 60 innings

Prior to his twin strike against Sri Lanka, Shaheen had an underwhelming Asia Cup 2025 with the ball, as he could take three wickets in four matches.

On the contrary, the 25-year-old made handy contributions with the bat in the ongoing continental tournament, mustering 64 runs in three innings at a magnificent strike rate of 206.45.

Meanwhile, when this story was filed, Sri Lanka were comfortably placed at 53/3 by the end of the batting powerplay with captain Charith Asalanka and Kamindu Mendis, unbeaten on 17 and 10, respectively.