Shaheen Afridi Sets New Record at T20 World Cup 2026

Shaheen Shah Afridi made history for Pakistan in T20 International cricket, but his record-breaking performance was not enough to secure victory against England in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Super Eight stage.

The experienced fast bowler delivered an outstanding spell, taking 4 wickets for 30 runs in his four overs during the crucial match.

With this performance, Shaheen Afridi became Pakistan’s highest wicket-taker in T20I history. He has now claimed 135 wickets in 102 matches, surpassing Haris Rauf’s previous record of 133 wickets in 94 matches.

Shadab Khan ranks third on the list with 114 wickets in 123 T20 matches. Former captain Shahid Afridi stands fourth with 96 wickets in 98 matches, while Mohammad Nawaz is fifth with 91 wickets.

Despite Afridi’s early breakthrough, including a wicket in his very first over, Pakistan failed to capitalize on the strong start. Other bowlers were unable to provide enough support, and poor strategy prevented the team from fully benefiting from the momentum.

The Super Eight clash was played in Kandy, Sri Lanka. England defeated Pakistan by two wickets to secure a place in the semifinals, significantly reducing Pakistan’s chances of advancing.

Earlier in the match, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha won the toss and chose to bat first, a decision that did not work in the team’s favor.

Both Agha and Saim Ayub struggled with the bat. Sahibzada Farhan played a responsible innings, scoring a team-high 63 runs, including seven fours and two sixes. Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman each contributed 25 runs, while Shadab Khan added 23.

Chasing a target of 165, England reached the total in the final over. Captain Harry Brook led from the front with a brilliant century, guiding his team to victory and into the semifinals.

In another milestone during the match, Shadab Khan and Salman Mirza added 15 runs for the ninth wicket, setting a new record for Pakistan’s highest ninth-wicket partnership in T20 World Cup history. They surpassed the previous record of 13 runs set by Saeed Ajmal and Umar Gul.

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