Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman has etched his name into the record books, becoming the highest wicket-taking left-arm seamer in T20 cricket.
The milestone came during the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL), where the 30-year-old claimed 2-37 for Lahore Qalandars against Multan Sultans. His disciplined spell played a key role in a 20-run victory and took his overall T20 tally to 416 wickets, surpassing Pakistan’s Mohammad Amir.
Amir, who previously held the record among left-arm pacers, has 414 wickets from 356 matches. In contrast, Mustafizur reached 416 wickets in just 325 matches, underlining his consistency and efficiency in the shortest format. Earlier in the tournament, he had overtaken another Pakistani left-arm quick, Wahab Riaz, who sits on 413 wickets.
Despite losing the top spot, Amir remains in contention as he continues to feature in the PSL for Rawalpindi. The 33-year-old has so far taken two wickets in two matches, while Mustafizur has claimed four wickets in three games, keeping the race alive.
Mustafizur’s influence stretches beyond franchise cricket. Of his 416 T20 wickets, 158 have come in T20 Internationals — the highest by any Bangladeshi bowler. He reached that landmark in September last year, eclipsing Shakib Al Hasan’s previous national record in the format.
However, Shakib still leads the overall tally of recognised T20 wickets among Bangladeshi bowlers, with 507 to his name. With limited recent appearances from the veteran all-rounder, that mark may soon come under threat if Mustafizur maintains his upward trajectory.
On the global stage, Mustafizur currently ranks seventh on the all-time T20 wicket list, while Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan leads the chart with a remarkable 703 wickets.
