Mustafiz becomes leading left-arm pacer in T20 history

Bangladesh’s left-arm fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman has become the highest wicket-taking left-arm pacer in the history of recognised T20 cricket.

He achieved the milestone during a Pakistan Super League (PSL) match on Friday night while playing for Lahore Qalandars. 

Mustafiz picked up two wickets against Multan Sultans, surpassing Pakistan’s Mohammad Amir, who previously held the record with 414 wickets.

He reached the landmark in just 325 matches, significantly fewer than Amir’s 356 appearances.

At the start of the PSL season, Mustafiz was ranked third among left-arm pacers in T20 history. He moved past former Pakistan bowler Wahab Riaz, who ended his career with 413 wickets, during his second match of the tournament against Karachi Kings.

The race for the top spot remains competitive, as 33-year-old Amir is also playing in the ongoing PSL season for Rawalpindi and could challenge the record again.

Out of Mustafizur’s 416 total T20 wickets, 158 have come in international matches, making him Bangladesh’s leading wicket-taker in T20 internationals. 

He achieved that national record last September by surpassing Shakib Al Hasan.

Across all types of bowlers, Mustafizur currently ranks seventh on the all-time T20 wicket-takers list. Afghanistan’s leg-spinner Rashid Khan leads the global standings with 703 wickets.