Bangladesh’s all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan emerged as the highest wicket-taker in the history of ICC T20 World Cups, as he took his 40th and 41st wickets in the tournament’s ongoing edition against Sri Lanka at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

He earned the feat with his 40th wicket by bowling out Panthum Nissanka, 24, of Sri Lanka in the first ball of his 2nd over, leaving the Island nation for 71 for 2 in 8.1 overs. 

Shakib further improved his record of grabbing 41 wickets bowling out Avishka Fernando for a duck in his 4th ball of the same over (2nd over) with scoreboard showing 71 for 3 in the 8.4 overs.

Earlier on Thursday, Shakib Al Hasan drew level with the record of Pakistan legend Shahid Afridi, taking 39 wickets in T20 World Cups.

Read: ICC T20 World Cup 2021: Shakib Al Hasan Reaches Three Unique Milestones

Afridi took 39 wickets in 34 matches of the T20 World Cups between 2007 and 2016. Shakib needed just 28 matches to touch Afridi’s record. He broke the record in his 29th match. Along the way, Shakib registered three four-wicket hauls, while Afridi has two four-wicket hauls.

He reached the milestone by taking four wickets for only nine runs in his four-over spell in this T20 World Cup match against Papua New Guinea in Muscat last Thursday.

Shakib’s four-wicket haul helped the Tigers register an 84-run win against Papua New Guinea in the ongoing T20 World Cup to book a place in the Super 12s stage.

In Thursday’s match, Bangladesh won the toss and opted to bat first to post 181 for 7 in 20 overs featuring 50 runs by skipper Mahmudullah Riyad posted. Later, they dismissed Papua New Guinea for 97 runs in 19.3 overs. It was Bangladesh’s biggest win in terms of runs.

Read: Shakib becomes highest-wicket taker in T20Is

On Thursday, Shakib also scored 46 runs off 37 balls which helped him to earn the player of the match award. In the previous match against Oman, he also was the player of the match.

In the previous match, Shakib also emerged as the highest wicket-taker in T20 Internationals surpassing Sri Lankan legend Lasith Malinga.