Sunday, 5th April 2026
Khabor Wala Desk
Published: 20th January 2026, 7:16 AM
Afghanistan continued their impressive run against West Indies, following up their Under-19 World Cup victory last Sunday with a commanding win in the senior series in Dubai on Monday. In the opening match of the three-game T20I series, Afghanistan defeated West Indies by 38 runs, keeping up momentum ahead of the T20 World Cup.
The victory also marked another milestone for Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan, who is on the cusp of becoming the first bowler in T20I history to reach 700 wickets. With just nine wickets remaining, the leg-spinner edged closer to this landmark during the match.
Batting first, Afghanistan posted a competitive 181 for 3, recovering from early setbacks. After losing two openers for just 19 runs, Ibrahim Zadran (87) and Darwish Rasooli (84) stitched together an unbeaten 162-run partnership for the third wicket, stabilising the innings.
In response, West Indies managed 143 for 3 in their chase. Rashid Khan took 2 wickets for 19 runs, while Mujeeb Ur Rahman claimed 2 for 29. Afghan pacer Ziaur Rahman added a crucial wicket, ensuring the Caribbean side’s top order failed to build momentum. Rashid’s economical bowling was particularly notable, as he delivered the highest number of dot balls (15) among Afghanistan’s seven bowlers.
Top T20I Wicket-Takers
| Rank | Bowler | Matches | Wickets | Average | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rashid Khan (Afghanistan) | 507 | 691 | 18.55 | Leg Spin |
| 2 | Dwayne Bravo (WI) | 546 | 631 | 22.58 | Pace/All-Rounder |
| 3 | Sunil Narine (WI) | 573 | 613 | 20.75 | Spin |
| 4 | Imran Tahir (SA) | 430 | 570 | 20.90 | Leg Spin |
| 5 | Andre Russell (WI) | 521 | 508 | 24.60 | Pace/All-Rounder |
| 6 | Shakib Al Hasan (BAN) | 461 | 507 | 21.35 | Spin/All-Rounder |
| 10 | Mustafizur Rahman (BAN) | 319 | 410 | 23.10 | Pace |
Rashid currently leads the top-ten wicket-takers in T20I in terms of bowling average, underscoring his consistency. He has also set records for the fastest 400, 500, and 600 wickets in T20 internationals, sharing the elite 600-wicket milestone with Bravo and Narine.
Afghanistan will face West Indies in two more matches before heading into the T20 World Cup, which begins on 7 February in India and Sri Lanka. Afghanistan’s first match will be against New Zealand in Chennai on 8 February.
Reflecting on his team’s preparations, Rashid stated, “We are fit as a team and hopeful for a good World Cup. We aim to go to India with the right combination and coordination to execute the best plan possible.”
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