Cricket’s Twenty20 format offers batters the license to go berserk and often, that freedom leads to some astonishing knocks. The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, the premier tournament of the shortest format, too, has seen its fair share of such breezy innings.

Former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh holds the record for scoring the fastest fifty in T20 World Cup history.

In the famous India vs England encounter of the 2007 T20 World Cup, Yuvraj Singh smashed a half-century in just 12 balls en route to his 16-ball 58. His knock memorably included six sixes in an over off Stuart Broad following an altercation with Andrew Flintoff.

To this date, it remains the fastest fifty in the shortest format of the game.

Yuvraj Singh’s fiery innings helped eventual champions India post a daunting total of 218/4, which the bowlers successfully defended to help their team win by 18 runs. 

The World Twenty20 2022 saw Australian all-rounder Marcus Stonis play a blinder of an innings against Sri Lanka in the super 12 stage. 

The 33-year-old slammed an unbeaten 59 off 18 balls after reaching the half-century with a six off the 17th ball of his innings, which helped Australia chase down a target of 158 with more than three overs to spare. Played at a huge strike rate of 327.78, the knock comprised four fours and six maximums. 

A similar innings was also played by former Netherlands batsman Stephan Myburgh in the 2014 edition to etch his name on the illustrious list.

Chasing a target of 190, the opening batter came out with an attacking intent to slam a half-century off 17 balls, before departing for a well-made 63 off 23 balls.

His innings, coupled with other batters�?contributions, helped the Dutch team breach the challenging total in just 14 overs. 

All-rounder Glenn Maxwell is another Australian on the list of players with the fastest fifty in T20 World Cup, having achieved the feat in 2014.

Batting first, Pakistan posted a massive total of 191/5 thanks to Umar Akmal’s 54-ball 94. Looking to hunt down 192 runs, opener Aaron Finch and all-rounder Glenn Maxwell got to their respective half-centuries, with the latter reaching the mark in just 18 balls. However, their heroic efforts went in vain as Pakistan won the clash by 16 runs.

Team India batter KL Rahul and former Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik complete the list of fastest fifty in T20 World Cup

Both the cricketers smashed their fifties in the marquee event back in 2021 against the same opponent - Scotland. 

While KL Rahul scored an 18-ball 50 before getting dismissed off the next ball in the Super 12 fixture, Shoaib Malik scored 54* off 18 balls at a strike rate of 300. Both the knocks steered their respective teams to victory. Know the players with fastest fifty in T20 World Cup history.

Fastest fifty in T20 World Cup

Player	Team	Balls taken to reach fifty	Final score	OpponentsÂ	Year
Yuvraj Singh	India	12	58 (16)	England	2007
Stephan Myburgh	Netherlands	17	63 (23)	Ireland	2014
Marcus Stoinis	Australia	17	59* (18)	Sri Lanka	2022
Glenn Maxwell	Australia	18	74 (33)	PakistanÂ	2014
Shoaib Malik	Pakistan	18	54* (18)	ScotlandÂ	2021
KL Rahul	India	18	50 (19)	ScotlandÂ	2021
Mohammad Ashraful	Bangladesh	20	61 (27)	West Indies	2007
Yuvraj Singh	India	20	70 (30)	Australia	2007
Shadab Khan	Pakistan	20	55 (22)	South Africa	2022
Mahela Jayawardene	Sri Lanka	21	65 (27)	Kenya	2007

Photo credit: Indranil MUKHERJEE / AFP

The Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2024 began on February 17 and concluded on March 18.

Organised by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), as many as six teams played a total of 34 T20 matches across four venues in PSL 2024. 

Islamabad United, Karachi Kings, Lahore Qalandars, Multan Sultans, Peshawar Zalmi and Quetta Gladiators are the teams that were competing for the PSL 2024 title.

Some of the talented T20 bowlers including the likes of Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Wasim, David Willey, Abbas Afridi, Shadab Khan and Hasan Ali participated in the Pakistan Super League.

Multan Sultans�?Abbas Afridi finished with the most wickets in PSL 2023. The 22-year-old right-arm pacer picked up 23 wickets in 11 matches in the 2023 edition.

Meanwhile, former Pakistan fast bowler Wahab Riaz holds the record for the most wickets in PSL history. Between 2016 and 2023, the left-arm pacer bagged 113 wickets in 88 matches for Peshawar Zalmi.

Islamabad United captain Shadab Khan took the first wicket in PSL 2024. The star leg-spinner dismissed Lahore Qalandars�?opening batter Fakhar Zaman in the opening game of the T20 tournament. 

Peshawar Zalmi leg-spinner Arif Yaqoob became the first bowler to claim a five-wicket haul in PSL 2024. Arif Yaqoob recorded match-winning figures of 5/27 against Islamabad United to help his side win the game by eight runs at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

Apart from Yaqoob, the likes of Mohammad Ali, David Willey, Shaheen Afridi, Abrar Ahmed and Usama Mir were in contention to be the top wicket-taker in PSL 2024.

Here’s a look at the players with most wickets in PSL 2024.

Most wickets in PSL 2024: Know the top wicket-takers in Pakistan Super League

Player	Team	Matches	Wickets
Usama Mir	Multan Sultans	12	24
Mohammad Ali	Multan Sultans	12	19
Abrar Ahmed	Quetta Gladiators	10	16
David Willey	Multan Sultans	11	15
Akeal Hosein	Quetta Gladiators	10	15
Naseem Shah	 Islamabad United	 11	15
Shaheen Afridi	Lahore Qalandars	9	14
Hasan Ali	Karachi Kings	10	14
 Shadab Khan	 Islamabad United	12	14
Abbas Afridi	Multan Sultans	9	13

Photo credit: Alamy

The Kashmir Premier League 2021, a new T20 cricket tournament launched by the Pakistan Cricket Board, will start on August 6. It will be held in Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and will run till August 17.

The T20 competition aims to provide the young cricket talent in the city an opportunity to showcase their credentials as promising cricketers, and set a platform for the tournament to attract international investment on the lines of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

Six teams will play in the Kashmir Premier League in a round-robin format. They are Rawalakot Hawks, Kotli Lions, Mirpur Royals, Muzaffarabad Tigers, Overseas Warriors, and Bagh Stallions.

Each team will have five local Kashmiri players, who will play alongside Pakistan's international stars in the inaugural edition.

The Kashmir Premier League has announced the captains for the six franchises, with Shahid Afridi - the brand ambassador for the competition - leading the list.

Shahid Afridi will lead Rawlakot Hawks. Senior Pakistan cricketers Mohammad Hafeez (Muzafarabad Tigers), Shoaib Malik (Mirpur Royals), Fakhar Zaman (Kotli Lions), Shadab Khan (Bagh Stallions), and Imad Wasim (Overseas Warrior) will also be involved as captains.

Former South Africa cricketer Herschelle Gibbs intended to participate in the series as well but has faced flak from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

The BCCI has reportedly issued a warning to all cricket boards that anyone taking part in the Kashmir Premier League will be banned from all cricketing activities in India.

It has issued the dictum since the tournament will be played in the contentious Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), which is a subject of national-level interest for India.

In response, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has released a statement criticising the BCCI, citing that their warnings are bringing the game into disrepute.

Featured photo: AFP / Arif Ali

After England’s historic chase in the second T20I, the hosts will look to win the series with another victory in the third and final T20I against Pakistan at the Old Trafford Cricket Ground in Manchester.

Pakistan, who face a must-win situation, will likely be without pacer Mohammad Amir, who suffered a hamstring injury in the second T20I. Who can step up in his absence and who can England rely on to guide them to another series win? We take a look at the players to watch out for in the third T20I.

Dawid Malan

The 32-year-old Yorkshire batsman has finally found his footing in international cricket after years of piling runs aplenty in domestic cricket.

Batting at No. 3 in the absence of Joe Root, Malan, playing the anchor role for the hosts, has been good in each of his two outings in the series.

While the English batting line-up, with the exception of Tom Banton, crumbled in the first T20I, Malan played a gritty knock of 23 off 23 balls to help England put a respectable total on the scoreboard before rain interrupted proceedings and the match was called off.

In the second T20I, Malan was at his brilliant best, smashing 54 off 36 balls to help England chase down 194, the second-highest successful chase in the country. The 32-year-old has been in great touch in this series and England will be hopeful that the experienced southpaw will deliver in the third T20I as well.

Fakhar Zaman

It’s been over two years and 13 innings since Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman scored a half-century in T20Is for his nation.

After his brilliant 91 off 46 against Australia, Zaman failed to cross 25 in each of his next 12 outings for Pakistan. However, that changed in the second T20, as the opener struck a flashy 36 off 22 before being dismissed by Adil Rashid.

Zaman struck five boundaries and a six in his knock of 36 and looked confident out in the centre against the English attack. This could be the springboard that the 30-year-old needed to end his slump and Pakistan could really do with a big score from their experienced opener in the final match of the series.

Tom Curran

Despite playing twenty T20Is for his country, all-rounder Tom Curran is yet to have a meaningful impact on the international stage.

The 25-year-old has picked up 22 wickets in his 20 appearances, however, his economy rate of 9.25 makes him one of the most expensive bowlers operating at the international level. His fairly decent strike rate of 17.2 doesn’t quite make up for his inability to curb the runs.

With the bat, he’s managed just 38 runs in eight outings, but that could be attributed to the depth of the England batting line-up and the lack of chances that Curran has gotten at the international stage.

But, the point remains that he needs to perform well to keep his place in the playing XI and the third T20I against Pakistan could be one of the final opportunities he gets to showcase that he belongs on the international stage.

Shadab Khan

The 21-year-old all-rounder has performed quite well in the ongoing T20I series against England.

Shadab has picked up five wickets in two matches at a decent economy rate of 8.37. He was the pick of the Pakistani bowlers in the second T20I, finishing with figures of 3-34. Not only did he just pick wickets, but he also scalped two important ones, dismissing both English openers who were in stellar touch in the powerplay overs. 

Pakistan will be hopeful that Shadab can continue his good form in the final T20I.

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Feature image courtesy: AFP / Mike Hewitt

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author's and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of SportsAdda.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced Monday that three players have tested positive for the global virus ahead of the team's tour of England next month.

The PCB said leg-spinner Shadab Khan, fast bowler Haris Rauf and teenage batsman Haider Ali had tested positive despite showing no symptoms and would now go into self-isolation.

The first Test against England at Old Trafford is due to start on August 5.

The PCB is testing its players and officials ahead of the much-anticipated tour, which will also see games played in Southampton.

Pakistan is experiencing a surge in cases, with more than 180,000 so far including 3,590 deaths -- though real numbers are thought to be much higher.

Read | Rohit Sharma is my role model, says Pakistan's Haider Ali

The PCB also tested 23 players and 12 team officials Monday, with results due on Tuesday.

Additional tests are planned for later in the week in Lahore, with only players testing negative allowed to fly to England.

The PCB said anyone testing positive must remain in quarantine for two weeks.

After that period, they will only be allowed to rejoin teammates in England following two successive negative tests.

Pakistan players will also be subject to mandatory quarantine upon arrival in England, as per current British government regulations.

The team will eventually practice in what officials are describing as a "bio-secure" environment.

Read | Misbah says no strings attached to Pakistan's tour of England

Following the August 5 Test in Manchester, Pakistan will play the remaining two games in Southampton, starting on August 13 and 21 respectively.

Pakistan will also play three Twenty20 internationals in Southampton on August 29, 31 and September 2.

Fortunately for the team, the three players who tested positive were not expected to play in the Test matches, only in the Twenty20 games.

Team physio Cliffe Deacon and bowling coach Waqar Younis will fly directly to England from South Africa and Australia before taking their virus tests.

Senior batsman Shoaib Malik, who will only play in the Twenty20 internationals, was allowed to join the team in late July to let him spend time with his Indian tennis star wife Sania Mirza and their son in Dubai.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Wikus de Wet

In the third part of our series, we looked at the best pacers in T20Is since the conclusion of World T20 2016. Here, in this part, we will have a glance at the spinners who have helped their respective teams become world beaters during this period.

Rashid Khan (70 wickets)

The Afghan leg-spinner is the highest wicket-taker during this timeframe and that too by a big margin. Rashid has taken 70 wickets in just 34 matches at a sensational average and strike-rate of 10.68 and 10.9 respectively. His economy rate of 5.84 has been quite mean as well and hence, these numbers are testimony of his skills as a bowler. Rashid's main strength is his ability to turn the ball even after bowling at a higher pace as compared to other contemporary bowlers. His googly, in particular, is quite lethal.

Read | Five best middle-order batsmen since T20 World Cup 2016

Yuzvendra Chahal (55 wickets)

The Indian leg-spinner is the second-highest wicket-taker during this period. His 55 scalps have come in a total of 42 matches at an excellent strike-rate of 17.8. Although his average (24.34) and economy rate (8.18) hasn't been that impressive, he compensates that with his ability to take wickets in tough bowling conditions. He doesn't shy away from attacking the batsmen even when they are on the charge. It is this attacking mindset that fetches him wickets on most occasions.

Shadab Khan (48 wickets)

Another leg-spinner follows at third in the list of highest wicket-takers since last T20 World Cup. The Pakistani international has been a one-man army as far as his country’s spin-bowling contingent is concerned. Shadab's 48 wickets have come at an excellent strike-rate of 17.8 and a decent economy rate of 7.01. He gets a good amount of bounce owing to his height and his ability to turn the ball on some occasions keeps the batsmen guessing.

Read | Five best openers since T20 World Cup 2016

Kuldeep Yadav (39 wickets)

He is another Indian wrist-spinner who has been absolutely fabulous since his debut. Kuldeep belongs to the conventional category of spinners who like to bowl slow and give the ball a good amount of time in the air. Moreover, he has taken these wickets in only 75.3 overs at an outstanding average and strike-rate of 13.76 and 11.6 respectively. Batsmen find it hard to read him as his wrist position at the point of delivery is quite deceptive. 

Ish Sodhi (37 wickets)

The towering leg-spinner, Ish Sodhi has been a major wicket-taking weapon for New Zealand especially since 2016. He performed pretty well during the five-match T20I series against India earlier this year. He has 37 wickets to his name during this period at a good strike-rate of 19.7. His average (27.86) and strike-rate (8.46) hasn't been that impressive but that is understandable as he mostly bowls on flat decks and within small boundaries at home.

Pakistan head coach Mickey Arthur has requested the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) two grant him two more years to deliver “remarkable results�? He further went on to state that he wants captain Sarfaraz Khan sacked and leadership roles to be handed over to the youngsters in the team.

After Pakistan failed to qualify for the semi-finals of the 2019 Cricket World Cup, PCB’s Cricket Committee reviewed results of the past three years which included the Champions Trophy victory as well as the poor performances in the Test circuit.  

According to PTI, Arthur suggested to the Committee that Shahdab Khan should replace Sarfaraz as captain in the limited-overs formats, while Babar Azam should be given the responsibility of the Test side. PCB Managing Director, Wasim Khan will discuss the issue with other members on Wednesday before forwarding recommendations to the Board Chairman, Ehsan Mani.

Arthur, who has been with the Pakistan Cricket Team since mid-2016, has helped them reach the summit of the ICC T20 rankings. However, some bizarre performances in Tests and overall inconsistency in ODIs have been the point of concern for the Board.

Arthur and other staff members have their contracts expiring on August 15, with reports stating that he has also applied for the position of head coach with the Sri Lankan Cricket Board. On the other hand, PCB is trying to get Mahela Jayawardena for the job but currently, he is working with the Mumbai franchise of the Indian T20 League. If it becomes difficult for them to lure him with a higher salary package, Arthur may go on to retain his position.

Feature Image Courtesy: AFP/ Jewel Samad

Every World Cup failure for Pakistan sparks a wave of reviews and sackings and the promise of a fresh approach �?until the team wins again and all is forgotten.

The script is expected to be similar after Sarfaraz Ahmed's team failed to make the semi-finals in England and Wales despite a late charge.

Pakistan won four straight matches to finish level on 11 points with New Zealand, but they bowed out of the tournament due to an inferior net run-rate.

There have once again been calls for an overhaul of the system, changes in the team set-up and style of play, but 1992 World Cup winner Wasim Akram said there was no need to panic.

"Pakistan woke up late in the World Cup and when they gained momentum they won four straight games," the former captain told AFP.

"It is not a bad finish and I don't think we need to panic.

"There is no quick fix and the people running cricket need time and must keep the example of how England lifted their one-day cricket. I am ready to contribute towards that."

Watch | Stani Army's take on India-Pakistan clashes

England's humiliating first-round exit in 2015 sparked a radical rethink and the host nation started this World Cup as the number one side in the world.

Another World Cup winner, Ramiz Raja, believes Pakistan have the ability to produce "magical" cricket and says their exit is a loss to the tournament.

But he said every defeat was an opportunity to assess things and that ruthless decisions were required.

"I think every defeat gives an opportunity for introspection, so Pakistan need to do four or five things if they want to be a force in world cricket," he said.

"Pakistan have to correct their system, which can provide them with regular talent and then define and refine that talent.

"Look at Australia �?they were losing against every team a year ago but since their system is strong they stood up. We need to take ruthless decisions in a review."

The positions of head coach Mickey Arthur and captain Sarfaraz �?both of whom had contracts until the World Cup �?will be looked at as part of the assessment.

Luckily for Pakistan, they have a crop of talented youngsters who can form the nucleus of the team for years to come.

Read | Fans own Twitter banter after Pakistan’s World Cup exit

"At 24, we're the youngest team by a long way in this competition, and that is something that we can be proud of, and I think that augurs well for the future of Pakistan cricket," said Arthur, who wants to continue in the role of coach.

"We've showcased a lot of our young talent, and I think the likes of Shaheen Afridi, Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Shadab Khan, the list goes on and on. And look, there's going to be a review now, and we'll see how that goes.

"Unfortunately, it has always been this way for Pakistan -- we don't seem to be able to find that collective consistency. But my message, again, is 'let's stay positive'."

Pakistan has hosted little international cricket since Sri Lanka's team bus was attacked in 2009 in Lahore.

The situation has forced Pakistan to play at neutral venues in the United Arab Emirates, meaning the game is not so visible to the younger generation who need to be inspired to play the game.

The nation's cricket board is striving to bring back international cricket to Pakistan in the hope that will provide a further catalyst for a revival in the team's fortunes.

Feature image courtesy: AFP Photo/ Paul Ellis

Pakistan's Shadab Khan is glad he and his fellow leg-spinners from other teams are all making their presence felt at the World Cup.

Shadab himself starred in Pakistan's morale-boosting win over South Africa at Lord's on Sunday that revived their flagging hopes of reaching the semi-finals.

The 20-year-old took 3-50 as Pakistan -- who made an impressive 308-7 -- restricted South Africa to 259-9 for their second win in six matches.

For South Africa Imran Tahir, also a leg-spinner, took 2-41 in his 10 overs -- a performance which Shadab said underlined the impact of leg-spinners at the World Cup.

"Imran bowled well in our innings so I thought that I will also get some help and grip and it turned out to be like that," said Shadab.

The fast-rising star was rated as Pakistan's trump card by none other than World Cup-winning captain Imran Khan, now the country's prime minister.

When Shadab dismissed South African opener Quinton de Kock it meant he had reach the landmark of 50 wickets in his 38th one-day international.

And with the World Cup hopefully over the worst of the rain that has plagued the tournament's early stages, Shadab said: "When there is dry weather and the pitch is also dry then leg-spin will come into equation.

"That's why I am happy to have played my part in the wins against South Africa and England," said Shadab.

He dismissed Jason Roy and centurion Joe Root in Pakistan's shock 14-run win against world number one and tournament hosts England.

Besides Shadab, India's Yuzvendra Chahal, Afghanistan's Rashid Khan, Tahir, England's Adil Rashid and Australia's Adam Zampa are all leg-spinners.

Tahir, the oldest at this World Cup at 40, leads the spinners' chart with ten wickets in seven games while Chahal has eight in four and Rashid seven in six matches.

Pakistan, currently seventh on the table after two wins from six matches, still have a chance of breaking into the top four that will go into the semi-finals from the 10-team round-robin group phase.

Shadab admitted Pakistan were in a must-win situation in all their remaining three group matches, starting with Wednesday's fixture against an in-form New Zealand in Birmingham. 

Pakistan also need to lift their inferior net run-rate besides hoping other results go their way.

"We know the situation," said Shadab. "We need to win our remaining three matches to harbour any hopes of reaching the semi-finals, but the confidence is there so we will be taking it match by match."

After the New Zealand match, Pakistan play Afghanistan in Leeds on June 29 before concluding their group-stage campaign against Bangladesh at Lord's on July 5.

Feature image courtesy: Twitter / Cricket World Cup

A relentless training routine and "unparalleled" commitment have taken Pakistan leg-spinner Shadab Khan from club cricket in his remote village to the World Cup in just a few short years.

The 20-year-old, already third in the world Twenty20 bowling rankings, has caught the eye of none other than Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan -- who led Pakistan to their only World Cup win in 1992.

But when the prime minister singled out Shadab during a meeting with the team before they flew to England, it came as no surprise to the coaches and players who know him.

They credit his heady rise to a tireless work ethic including pre-dawn starts to fit in maximum practice.

"Shadab's commitment to cricket is unparalleled," said his former club coach Sajjad Ahmed.

"He sleeps around 9:00 pm and reaches the ground before sunrise. That's been his routine for years so that he can practise as much as possible."

Shadab grew up playing cricket on the rough pitches of Mianwali district -- a farming community near the banks of the Indus River in Punjab province -- which is also home to Prime Minister Khan and fellow Pakistan Test player Misbah-ul-Haq.

In between swimming in the myriad canals bisecting the fertile fields in his hometown, Shadab spent hours on the cricket pitch daily, where he developed his signature leg-breaks and love for batting.

"Shadab was so interested in batting that at one time he quit bowling," said Ahmed.

"But I advised him to consider becoming an all-rounder, then he would have a better chance to play top-level cricket and he complied."

The decision proved prescient.

After playing for Pakistan's Under-16s, Shadab was selected for the Under-19 World Cup in Bangladesh in 2016, where he finished as Pakistan's joint-highest wicket-taker with 11.   

A few months later he made his first-class debut for Pakistan A during their tour of England, taking five wickets and scoring a valuable 48 in their win over Sri Lanka A in an unofficial Test.

Later that year, he made headlines again with a match-changing 132 and figures of 4-84 and 5-82 for Pakistan A against Zimbabwe A.

After playing for Islamabad United in the 2017 Pakistan Super League, the leg-spinner enjoyed a dream international debut when he was man-of-the-match in Pakistan's T20 win over reigning world champions the West Indies in Bridgetown.

- 'Not forgotten his roots' -

But despite his success, friends and close associates said Shadab has maintained his long hours on the practice pitch to keep his skills sharp.

"I remember once we went on a tour to Lahore for a tournament and after the match all the boys would go sightseeing, but Shadab used to sleep early and would only concentrate on cricket," said long-time friend Raja Falak Sher, Shadab's first captain at club level.

"To this day his routine is the same and that has helped him rise to where he is today."

Perhaps one of Shadab's finest moments so far came at the Champions Trophy in 2017 in a showdown against arch-rivals India, where he trapped Yuvraj Singh in front of the wicket.

English umpire Richard Kettleborough was unmoved but Shadab convinced skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed to review -- and was proved correct, making Shadab a hero of Pakistan's win.

Gradually Shadab has also begun to make an impression in the longer format of the game, scoring three half-centuries in as many Tests in England and Ireland last year.

"Shadab has talent, passion and commitment and those traits will take him places," his former coach told AFP.

"But he has not forgotten his roots. Siddique Akbar club was his first team. He visits us when he is in the city and now he runs the club out of his own pocket."