Abrar Ahmed reaches 50 T20I wickets as Pakistan chase semi-final fate
abrar ahmed completed 50 wickets in T20 Internationals when he dismissed Kamil Mishara in the Super 8s Group 2 encounter with Sri Lanka at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. The milestone came as Sri Lanka chased 213 in a match that will decide who advances to the semi-finals.
Abrar Ahmed completes 50 T20I wickets — stats and career notes
The landmark arrives with several notable career markers for the leg-spinner. Playing his 38th T20I, abrar ahmed reached 50 wickets since making his T20I debut in April 2024. His figures in the format show an average under 18 and an economy rate under 8. His best T20I bowling return remains 4 for 9, recorded against the UAE in Sharjah.
Additional context from his T20 career included in the match build-up highlights that most of his T20I wickets have been taken against Sri Lanka (more than ten). He is described as Pakistan's go-to wrist-spinner and has accumulated more than 100 wickets in T20 cricket overall. Outside the national side, the leg-spinner has also featured in the Pakistan Super League, Major League Cricket and the Bangladesh Premier League.
Match context and implications: Pakistan need to restrict Sri Lanka to 147 or fewer
The match situation is tightly drawn. Pakistan posted 212 for 8 in their innings, powered by a century from Farhan and a record-breaking 176-run opening stand with Fakhar. That total set Sri Lanka a chase of 213. For Pakistan to advance to the semi-finals, Sri Lanka must be held to 147 or fewer; a chase of 148 or more would send New Zealand through instead.
Team selection ahead of the clash saw Pakistan make changes, with Babar, Ayub and Mirza dropped for Nafay, Naseem and Abrar. Sri Lanka, already eliminated from contention, won the toss and elected to bowl.
During the Super 8s action, a commentator observed that Abrar Ahmed did not immediately celebrate his 50th wicket, suggesting a sense that the milestone had come late in the contest — though the match itself remained undecided at that point.
What the milestone and match mean next
Abrar Ahmed's 50th T20I wicket is a personal landmark in a condensed international career, achieved in a high-stakes World Cup setting. The immediate consequence of his intervention will be measured by whether Pakistan can convert a competitive 212 into a semi-final berth by restricting Sri Lanka to the specified threshold.
Given the narrow qualification condition — 147 or fewer for Pakistan to progress — the remainder of the match will determine the significance of the milestone for tournament progression. Details of the game and final outcome may evolve as play continues.
