Shaheen Afridi enters elite company with 400 international wickets

MIRPUR: Pakistan’s pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi etched his name deeper into cricketing history after reaching the milestone of 400 international wickets during the first Test against Bangladesh national cricket team at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Monday.

The landmark moment came when Afridi dismissed Bangladesh’s experienced batter Mominul Haque on day four, making him only the fifth Pakistani fast bowler and ninth overall to achieve the feat in international cricket.

With this achievement, Afridi joins an illustrious list of Pakistan’s pace legends, including Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, and Waqar Younis—names that defined eras with their dominance and match-winning abilities.

The 25-year-old reached the milestone in his 211th international appearance, underlining both his consistency and impact across formats. He now sits ninth on Pakistan’s all-time list of highest wicket-takers, steadily climbing a chart dominated by some of the greatest bowlers in the game.

Leading the list is Wasim Akram with a staggering 916 wickets, followed by Waqar Younis (789) and Imran Khan (544). Former all-rounder Shahid Afridi, spin wizard Saqlain Mushtaq, and off-spinner Saeed Ajmal also feature prominently on the list.

Earlier in the match, Afridi had already achieved another significant milestone in the ICC World Test Championship, becoming the first Pakistani bowler to claim 100 wickets in the competition. He reached the mark by removing Bangladesh opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy on the opening day.

This accomplishment also places him among an elite group globally, as only 19 bowlers have crossed the 100-wicket mark in the World Test Championship so far.

Afridi now leads Pakistan’s wicket tally in the WTC with 103 wickets, ahead of names like Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, and Naseem Shah.

At just 25, Shaheen Afridi’s rapid rise and consistency signal that he is not just following in the footsteps of Pakistan’s fast-bowling greats—he is well on his way to becoming one of them.