Pakistani right-arm off-break bowler Nida Dar has become the first Pakistani player – male or female – to reach a landmark of 100 wickets in T20 International cricket. She is also the first Asian woman to reach this milestone.
The breakthrough wicket that made Nida Dar’s name sparkle in the history pages was West Indies opener Deandra Dottin’s wicket which was caught by Diana Baig in the T20I series opener in North Sound. Dar’s made a lot of damage that day, she was also responsible for taking Stafanie Taylor’s wicket. So now Nida Dar’s tally is 101 wickets.
Nida Dar debuted for Pakistan national team in 2010 and has participated in 71 One-Day Internationals and 96 T20 Internationals. She took her career-best haul of 5 for 21 at the 2018 Asia Cup against Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur.
Only West Indian right-arm off-break bowler Anisa Mohammed, Aussie fast bowler Ellyse Perry, South African fast bowler Shabnim Ismail, and English Anya Shrubsole have taken more wickets than Dar in women’s T20Is.
Dar in the post-match interview said, “Definitely there was a lot of hard work behind this milestone. I always had this in mind to complete 100 wickets as quickly as possible. I had a chance in the previous series but unfortunately couldn’t do it. But this time made sure I will try my best in this series against West Indies and I am feeling great by getting this in the very first game.”
Most Wickets by a 🇵🇰 Cricketer in T20Is (as of 1st July 2021)
1️⃣ Nida Dar – 101* Wickets
2️⃣ Shahid Afridi – 97 Wickets
3️⃣ Sana Mir – 89 Wickets
4️⃣ Saeed Ajmal – 85 Wickets
5️⃣ Umar Gul – 85 WicketsCongratulations Nida on this historic milestone. #WIvPAK #WIvPAK @mir_sana05 pic.twitter.com/fhjHF0MUyK
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) July 1, 2021
“Sadly, the game didn’t finish in our favor and it could have been a lot better if we won the game. Anyway, next time I will try to win the game from my performance,” she added as Pakistan lost the match by 10 runs.
In the Pakistan cricket camp, when it comes to men’s cricket, former leg-spin bowler Shahid Afridi has the most number of wickets, i.e., 97 in T20I and second-highest overall in Pakistan. When it comes to women’s cricket, the second-highest wicket-taker is Sana Mir with 89 T20I wickets.
HISTORY CREATED!!
The first-ever bowler from Pakistan to take 100 T20I Wickets – Nida Dar. 🙌💪#WIWvsPAKW #WIvPAK pic.twitter.com/HrGSzM9os1
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) June 30, 2021
PCB had a lot to say about Dar’s latest history-making achievement, “This is no mean achievement and is a testimony of the hard work and dedication Nida has put in over the years,” Wasim Khan, the PCB CEO, said. “Over the last decade, Nida has prospered into an integral part of the national women’s team and has become an inspiration for the next generation of women cricketers.”
“It is a great moment not only for her but the whole nation as she is also the first Asian woman bowler to record this landmark. Nida is an icon and inspiration to millions of young girls who are passionate about cricket and follow the game. In a day and age when women’s cricket is flourishing and its fan base is increasing day-by-day, role models like her would do well in taking the women’s game to the corners of the earth.”
Dar took 2 wickets for 15 runs in the first T20I against West Indies and helped Pakistan restrict the home team to 136 but the Pakistani batters weren’t able to chase down the target and lost the match by 10 runs.
Source: ESPN Cricinfo