Harare: Teenaged Afghanistan legspinner Rashid Khan has become the fastest bowler to the milestone of 100 ODI wickets, doing so in 44 matches which is eight fewer than the previous record holder, Australia’s Mitchell Starc who took 52 matches to break an 18-year-old record in 2016.
Rashid, the game’s No 2 ranked ODI bowler, took his 100th wicket in the format when he had West Indies’ Shai Hope lbw for 23 with the last ball of his third over during Sunday’s final of ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier in Harare.
Aged 19, Rashid has been a hugely influential figure in the team’s rise from an Associate level team to a full member status. He took his 50th ODI wicket in his 26th match, and moved to 99 in 17 more.
Earlier this week, Afghanistan sealed their place at the 2019 World Cup with a five-wicket win over Ireland. The team had lost their World Cup Qualifier group games to Zimbabwe, Scotland and Hong Kong, but managed to make it into the Super Six stage. They then beat West Indies, UAE and Ireland to secure their place in Sunday’s final.
