UAE’s captain, Muhammad Waseem, set a remarkable record in cricket by hitting 100 international sixes in a single year, a first in the sport.
He achieved this milestone during the second T20I against Afghanistan on December 31 by smashing three sixes. Waseem’s 100th six soared over the deep-mid wicket, landing on the roof of the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
Ending 2023 with 101 sixes, Waseem now holds the record for the most sixes in a year, surpassing Rohit Sharma of India, who secured the next positions on the list with 80, 78, and 74 sixes in different years. Suryakumar Yadav also joined the leaderboard with 74 sixes in 2022.
Muhammad Waseem amassed 1645 runs from 47 matches in both T20Is and ODIs, showcasing an impressive average of 35.76 as an opening batter. In T20Is alone, he hit 54 sixes in 23 games, ranking second after Suryakumar Yadav’s 68 in 2022. Notably, Surya and Waseem hold the top five spots on this list.
Switching to ODIs, Waseem recorded 47 sixes in 24 appearances, securing the fifth spot for most sixes in a year by a batsman and setting a record for most sixes from an Associate Nation.
During the second T20I match against Afghanistan, Waseem’s aggressive start with 53 runs off 32 balls, including four fours and three sixes, and Aryan Lakra’s 63, helped UAE set a formidable total of 166 runs.
Afghanistan faced setbacks during their chase, slipping from 62-2 to 99-6, with Mohammad Nabi’s lone efforts ending in a 47-run knockoff 27 balls. Needing 12 runs off two deliveries, Nabi’s dismissal sealed their 11-run loss.
After bouncing back from an initial defeat, UAE is poised for the deciding match on January 2nd, aiming to secure victory and claim the series.