|| CF DESK ||

On the final day of the Rawalpindi Test, Shakib Al Hasan remarkably found his lost bowling rhythm, achieving a significant milestone as the Bangladeshi all-rounder is now the most successful left-arm spinner in the history of international cricket.

Shakib surpassed Daniel Vettori to become the leading wicket-taker among left-arm spinners on Sunday.

Vettori had held the top spot with 705 wickets across all formats. Shakib began the Rawalpindi Test just two wickets shy of that tally, with 703 wickets to his name. In the first innings, he bowled 27 overs, conceding 100 runs for a single wicket.

However, Shakib came back strong on the final day. He equaled Vettori's record by dismissing Pakistan's in-form batter Saud Shakeel for a duck. Shakib then went on to surpass the New Zealand great by claiming Abdullah Shafique’s wicket.

Shakib further extended his lead by taking the wicket of Naseem Shah.

Vettori took 705 wickets in 498 bowling innings, while Shakib has now surpassed him in just 482 innings. Shakib's wicket tally includes 241 in Tests, 317 in ODIs, and 149 in T20Is.

Among left-arm spinners, no one besides Shakib and Vettori has even crossed the 600-wicket mark. Ravindra Jadeja is third with 568 wickets, Rangana Herath is fourth with 525 wickets, and Sanath Jayasuriya is fifth with 440 wickets.

Among left-arm bowlers, including both pace and spin, Shakib now ranks third. Wasim Akram is far ahead with 916 wickets, followed by Chaminda Vaas with 761 wickets.