Pacer Hasan Mahmud achieved two milestones in a single day in the ongoing Test against Afghanistan, becoming the first Bangladeshi fast bowler to take a Test hat-trick before setting a record as the country’s fastest pacer to reach 50 Test wickets.
Hasan achieved the feat in his 17th Test match against Afghanistan.
Taskin Ahmed previously held the record among Bangladeshi fast bowlers, reaching 50 Test wickets in 18 matches. Hasan, a right-arm pacer, surpassed him by achieving the milestone in one fewer match.
Former Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza took 19 Tests to claim 50 wickets, while Shahadat Hossain Rajib reached the milestone in his 21st Test.
Mashrafe was the first Bangladeshi fast bowler to take 50 Test wickets, achieving the feat against Australia in Fatullah in 2006. Shahadat followed in 2009, reaching the milestone against Sri Lanka in Chattogram.
Taskin also completed 50 Test wickets against Pakistan in May this year. Hasan has now broken his record to become Bangladesh’s fastest pacer to the landmark.
Mashrafe remains Bangladesh’s leading wicket-taker among fast bowlers in Test cricket, with 78 wickets. Shahadat is second with 72, followed by Taskin with 59. Hasan has now reached 50 wickets.
FP/A
