By Tim Douglas 
North Sound, Antigua – August 2025: In yet another defining moment of his legendary career, Shakib Al Hasan etched his name into the history books by becoming only the fifth bowler in cricket history to take 500 T20 wickets. The Bangladesh allrounder achieved the milestone during the CPL 2025 clash between Antigua & Barbuda Falcons and St Kitts & Nevis Patriots.
Introduced in the 15th over, Shakib almost reached the landmark with his third ball when Jayden Seales caught Rizwan on the rope, only for replays to confirm the fielder had stepped on the boundary cushion. Shakib didn’t have to wait long, however, as he dismissed Mohammad Rizwan with a sharp return catch, completing wicket number 500 in T20 cricket.
Elite Company, Unique Legacy
By doing so, Shakib joins an exclusive list featuring Rashid Khan (660 wickets), Dwayne Bravo (631), Sunil Narine (590), and Imran Tahir (554). But what makes his feat even more remarkable is that he is the only player in history to pair 7000+ T20 runs with 500 wickets.
The closest anyone has come to this extraordinary double is Bravo, who retired with 6970 runs and 631 wickets. Andre Russell, with over 9300 T20 runs, sits just shy of 500 wickets on 487, but has yet to complete the landmark.
Records and Match-Winning Impact
Shakib went on to claim two more wickets in the same spell, finishing with 3/11 and taking his overall tally to 502 T20 wickets. His haul not only gave the Falcons victory but also elevated him further in cricket’s statistical annals.
He already holds the record for the most Player of the Series awards in T20 cricket (9), ahead of stars like Virat Kohli (8) and Wanindu Hasaranga (7). No spinner has taken more five-wicket hauls in T20s than Shakib, who sits joint-second overall with five, trailing only David Wiese (7).
Fans will also remember his breathtaking 6/6 for Barbados Tridents in CPL 2013, one of the most iconic spells in franchise cricket, alongside another six-wicket haul later that year in domestic cricket for Prime Bank.
Economy, Consistency and Class
Beyond wickets, Shakib’s longevity is built on control and economy. Out of 434 innings where he bowled at least two overs, he conceded a run-a-ball or less 181 times (41.5%), ranking among the very best globally. Only Narine, Rashid, and Imad Wasim boast better control metrics.
With bat and ball, Shakib continues to redefine what it means to be a complete T20 cricketer, his legacy now standing on an even higher pedestal after this remarkable achievement.
Himadullah Sohoo