Khan creates history, completes century of ODI wickets

Monitoring Desk

KABUL: Afghanistan spin sensation Rashid Khan on Sunday emerged as the youngest-ever bowler to claim 100 One Day International (ODI wickets.

As the 19-year-old sent back to the pavilion West Indian batsman Shai Hope in the final of the ICC World Cup Qualifier in Harare, he won the distinction. Before the all-important encounter began, Khan needed just one scalp to break the record of Australian pacer Mitchell Starc, who had reached the milestone in the 52nd match.

But the exceptionally-gifted spinner from eastern Nangarhar province accomplished the record in 44 ODIs. The spin prodigy, averaging 14.12, has a strike rate of about 21.4 in ODIs.

His economy rate of 3.94 adds to the glory of Rashid’s distinction. A third of his wickets have come against Ireland. While playing against Zimbabwe, he has notched up 40 wickets.

In the 23rd over of the Qualifier final, Rashid achieved the landmark. The leading Afghan bowler is their highest wicket-taker in the tournament. In the 2016 World T20, he finished as the second highest wicket-taker with 11 wickets in seven matches.

He also hogged the headlines in his debut seasons in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2017 and the Big Bash League. In the IPL, he claimed 17 wickets in 14 games. In the 2017 IPL edition, Sunrisers Hyderabad paid a whopping Rs4 crore. In the 2018, the club retained Khan for Rs9 crore.