Pakistan's pacer Haris Rauf has set a new milestone in T20I cricket by becoming the top wicket-taker for Pakistan, surpassing Shadab Khan's record on Sunday. Rauf achieved this feat during the first match of the three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe.

Rauf, with his 109th scalp, broke Shadab’s record of 107 wickets. The 31-year-old fast bowler reached this milestone in just 76 T20I matches, while Shadab had played 104 matches to reach his total. Rauf’s consistent performance with the ball has been a key factor in Pakistan’s success in T20I cricket.

Following Rauf in the list of top wicket-takers for Pakistan is Shaheen Afridi, who has taken 97 wickets in 73 matches. Afridi is just three wickets away from joining the exclusive 100-wicket club in T20Is.

Leading Wicket-Takers for Pakistan in T20I Cricket

- Haris Rauf - 109 wickets in 76 matches  
- Shadab Khan - 107 wickets in 104 matches  
- Shaheen Shah Afridi - 97 wickets in 73 matches  
- Shahid Afridi - 97 wickets in 98 matches  
- Umar Gul - 85 wickets in 60 matches  
- Saeed Ajmal - 85 wickets in 64 matches  

As of now, the global record for the most wickets in T20I cricket is held by former New Zealand captain Tim Southee, with 164 wickets in 126 matches.

In the opening match against Zimbabwe, Pakistan batted first after winning the toss. The team managed to score 165 runs, losing four wickets in their innings. Pakistan had a shaky start, losing Omair Bin Yousuf early for just 16 runs. Saim Ayub and Usman Khan tried to rebuild the innings but were dismissed for 24 and 39 runs, respectively. 

Captain Salman Ali Agha also struggled, scoring only 13 runs from 19 balls. However, Tayyab Tahir’s quick-fire 39* off 25 balls and Irfan Khan’s 27* from 15 balls helped Pakistan finish with a defendable total of 165 runs.

Zimbabwe’s response was disappointing, as their batting collapsed under pressure. Despite a strong effort from their captain Sikandar Raza (39 runs) and Tadiwanashe Marumani (33 runs), Zimbabwe were bowled out for just 108 runs in 15.3 overs. Apart from Raza and Marumani, no other Zimbabwean batter reached double figures. 

Pakistan's bowlers, led by Rauf, dominated the game. Rauf took two wickets, while spinners Abrar Ahmed and Sufiyan Muqeem each claimed three wickets. Jahandad Khan also picked up one wicket. 

Pakistan won the match by 57 runs, with Tayyab Tahir being named Player of the Match for his excellent batting performance. 

With this win, Pakistan takes a 1-0 lead in the three-match T20I series. The second match will be played on December 3, 2024, at 4:30 PM PST at the same venue.