Average of 4.9 in powerplay - Fazalhaq Farooqi continues to wreak havoc

Afghanistan’s bowling unit has been on fire in the 2024 T20 World Cup. They bundled out Uganda for just 58 runs in their opening game of the tournament and then dismissed New Zealand for 75 in 15.2 overs. On June 13 (Thursday) in Trinidad, Afghanistan were up against Papua New Guinea and bowled them out for 95 runs.

Here are some of the major stats from Match 29 of the ongoing 20-over showpiece event in the USA and the West Indies.

Most powerplay wickets in a single T20WC campaign

10 - Dirk Nannes (Australia) in 2010

8 - Blessing Muzarabani (Zimbabwe) in 2022

7 - Fazalhaq Farooqi (Afghanistan) in 2024

7 - Josh Hazlewood (Australia) in 2021

7 - RP Singh (India) in 2007

7 - David Willey (England) in 2016

Farooqi has been unstoppable in this World Cup, especially with the new ball. The left-arm seamer dismissed Lega Siaka and Sese Bau off consecutive deliveries in the third over and took his powerplay wickets tally to 7. Only two bowlers have taken more powerplay wickets than Farooqi in a single edition of the T20 World Cup.

Best bowling average in the powerplay 

(at least five wickets in a single T20WC)

4.9 - Fazalhaq Farooqi (Afghanistan) in 2024

7.3 - Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Afghanistan) in 2021

9.8 - Dirk Nannes (Australia) in 2010

11.5 - Dilhara Fernando (Sri Lanka) in 2007

11.5 - Blessing Muzarabani (Zimbabwe) in 2022

Nannes and Muzarabani might have picked up more wickets in the powerplay in a T20 World Cup but it’s Farooqi who has the best average. The left-armer’s strike rate (6.9) and economy rate (4.3) are also the best among bowlers with a minimum of six wickets in the first six overs. 

Afghanistan's bowling in the powerplay this T20WC

Uganda 21/5, Guyana National Stadium

New Zealand 33/3, Guyana National Stadium

Papua New Guinea 30/5, Brian Lara Stadium

Best T20WC campaign for Afghanistan pacers

2024 - 16 wickets @ 5.12 and ER of 3.25

2021 - 12 wickets @ 27.58 and ER of 7.66

2016 - 9 wickets @ 42.11 and ER of 8.51

2012 - 7 wickets @ 25.00 and ER of 8.75

Farooqi is having a dream 2024 T20 World Cup. He has claimed 12 wickets @ 3.5 and is currently the leading wicket-taker in the competition. In fact, he has more wickets in this campaign than Hamid Hassan (10), Shapoor Zadran (9), Dawalat Zadran (6) and Gulbadin Naib (5) have in their T20WC careers.

Apart from Farooqi, Naveen-ul-Haq has four wickets. Afghanistan have only played three games so far, but this is already the best T20 World Cup for their fast bowling unit, with 16 wickets.

Instances of a team bowling out opposition under 100 multiple times in T20WCs

3 - Afghanistan (2024)

2 - Sri Lanka (2014)

2 - Sri Lanka (2021)

2 - New Zealand (2016)

Most wickets for Afghanistan in T20Is

Rashid Khan - 142 @ 13.91

Mohammad Nabi - 95 @ 27.88

Mujeeb Ur Rahman - 59 @ 18.10

Naveen-ul-Haq - 50 @ 20.68

Fazalhaq Farooqi - 49 @ 18.10

Naveen knocked over Tony Ura and Hiri Hiri and became the first Afghanistan pacer to take 50 wickets in the 20-over format. Meanwhile, Farooqi is also just one wicket away from the same landmark.

Rashid Khan going wicketless in T20WC game

0/51 vs South Africa, Mumbai, 2016

0/36 vs India, Abu Dhabi, 2021

0/25 vs PNG, Trinidad, 2024

The ace legspinner failed to take a single wicket in this match, making it only the third time where he has gone wicketless in a T20 World Cup encounter. Overall, Rashid has 29 wickets in 18 T20WC games.

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