Afghanistan boosted their chances in Delhi with a strong performance from Azmatullah Omarzai, guiding them to a five-wicket victory over the UAE in a T20 World Cup Group D match. The UAE, batting first, managed to reach 160-9 thanks to Sohaib Khan’s 68 runs. Omarzai then shined with both bat and ball, taking 4-15 before smashing an unbeaten 40 off 21 deliveries to secure Afghanistan’s first win of the tournament with four balls remaining.
The outcome solidified South Africa’s spot in the Super Eight stage, joining India, West Indies, and England with six points from three games. Afghanistan now relies on Canada to upset New Zealand to keep their hopes alive in the competition.
While Omarzai played a crucial role in the victory, Afghanistan’s spin maestro Rashid Khan achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first bowler in T20 history to claim 700 wickets. His remarkable 1-24 spell included a unique hit-wicket dismissal of UAE’s Muhammad Ari Arfan attempting a reverse sweep.
Some key highlights of Rashid Khan’s bowling career include leading the T20 wicket charts since surpassing Dwayne Bravo in February 2025, currently holding a 69-wicket lead over the West Indian. Additionally, Rashid tops the list for most wickets in T20Is (191) and has impressive records in various countries, with over 100 wickets in India, the UAE, and Australia. His consistency is evident by taking 50+ wickets annually from 2017 to 2025, showcasing dominance in dismissals like most bowled (225) and most lbw (154) in T20 cricket.
