Shaheen Shah Afridi equals Wasim Akram's World Cup record

KOLKATA: Pakistan's left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi equalled legendary cricketer Wasim Akram's record of taking the most wickets for Pakistan in a single World Cup edition.

With two wickets in the ongoing match against England on Saturday, Shaheen's wicket tally for World Cup 2023 reached 18 — the same as Wasim Akram's in the 1992 World Cup.

The milestone follows Shaheen's other achievement as he became the quickest fast-bowler to complete 100 wickets in one-day internationals (ODI) during the ICC Men’s World Cup 2023 match against Bangladesh on October 31.

The left-handed bowler achieved the feat in 51 matches, overtaking Australia’s Mitchell Starc who bagged this many wickets in 52 outings.

He is also the fastest Pakistani bowler to reach 100 wickets, going past Saqlain Mushtaq who did it in 53 matches.

Previously Nepal’s Sandeep Lamichhane claimed 100 wickets in 42 outings while Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan reached the milestone in 44 matches.

Shaheen is also the joint-second-highest wicket-taker in a World Cup for Pakistan with former spinner Shahid Afridi claiming 21 wickets in 2011.

In ODIs, he has bagged 104 wickets so far at an average of 23.94 — of which 42 came in 2023 alone at an average of 24.04.