By a Staff Reporter
Muscat – Nepali national cricket team’s skipper Sandeep Lamichhane has shattered the record of Afghanistan’s leg spinner Rashid Khan. Lamichhane reached the mark of 50 wickets in T20I on Monday after taking a wicket of Ireland in the four-nation T20I series being held in Oman.
Lamichhane reached the milestone in just 29 T20I matches. He has become the third fastest player to take 50 wickets in T20I. He forced a catch out of Ireland’s Dockrell in the first ball of the 18th over to reach the milestone.
Sri Lanka’s former spinner Ajantha Mendis holds the record of the fastest player to take 50 wickets in T20I. He took 50 wickets in 26 matches. Ireland’s bowler Mark Adair is second in the list with 50 wickets from 28 matches.
Lamichhane now holds the record of the third fastest bowler to achieve the feat. South Africa’s Imran Tahir and Afghanistan’s Rashik Khan both reached the milestone in 31 matches.
Lamichhane is ahead of other renowned players such as South Africa’s Dale Steyn, India’s Jasprit Bumrag, Yuzvendra Chahal, Australia’s Mitchell Stark, Sri Lanka’s Lasith Malinga among others.
Chahal achieved the feat in 34 matches followed by Dale Steyn (35 matches), Trent Boult (36 matches), Mitchell Stark (40 matches).
Besides Lamichhane, another Nepali player Karan KC is close to the 50-wicket mark. He has taken 44 wickets in 33 matches so far. Basant Regmi was the first Nepali player to take 50 wickets in T20I. He has taken 53 wickets from 40 matches.