Pakistan pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi has reached a remarkable feat in T20I cricket, becoming the bowler with the most wickets taken in the first over of an innings in T20 Internationals.
The left-arm fast bowler achieved this feat during the third T20I against South Africa in Lahore, where he struck early by removing Quinton de Kock and Lhuan-dre Pretorius in the opening over after Pakistan opted to field first.
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With these wickets, Afridi now tops the list with 24 first-over wickets in T20 internationals — the most by any bowler in the format’s history.
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He is followed by Oman’s Bilal Khan, who has 22 wickets, India’s Bhuvneshwar Kumar with 18, and UAE’s Junaid Siddique with 17.
Most wickets in first over in T20Is:
24 – Shaheen Shah Afridi (Pakistan)
22 – Bilal Khan (Oman)
18 – Bhuvneshwar Kumar (India)
17 – Junaid Siddique (UAE)
Overall, across all T20 cricket, Afridi has taken 64 wickets in the first over — the most by any bowler — further cementing his reputation as one of the most lethal new-ball bowlers in the world.
His ability to deliver breakthroughs in the opening moments of the game continues to be a defining factor for Pakistan in the shortest format.
