UAE skipper Muhammad Waseem achieved a milestone by becoming the first cricketer to hit 100 international sixes in a single year. This feat was accomplished after he struck three sixes in the second T20I against Afghanistan on December 31.
Waseem cleared Afghanistan spinner Noor Ahmad over the deep-mid wicket, sending the ball onto the roof of the Sharjah Cricket Stadium to mark his 100th six of the year.
He added another six to his tally, concluding 2023 with a total of 101 sixes, setting the record for the highest number of over-boundaries in a year. Following closely behind is India’s captain Rohit Sharma, securing the next three positions on the list with 80 sixes in 2023, 78 in 2019, and 74 in 2018. Suryakumar Yadav also registered 74 sixes in 2022.
Batters to hit most sixes in a year
101 - Muhammad Waseem in 2023
80 - Rohit Sharma in 2023
78 - Rohit Sharma in 2019
74 - Rohit Sharma in 2018
74 - Suryakumar Yadav in 2022
65 - Rohit Sharma in 2017
Unlike Rohit, Waseem participates in only two formats. As an opening batter, he accumulated 1645 runs at an average of 35.76 from 47 matches across T20Is and ODIs to conclude the year.
In T20Is exclusively, he smashed 54 sixes from 23 games, the second-highest in a year after Surya’s 68 in 2022. Remarkably, between Surya and Waseem, they occupy the top five spots on that list.
In ODIs, Waseem recorded 47 sixes from 24 appearances, ranking fifth for the most sixes in a calendar year by a batsman and holding the record for most sixes from an Associate Nation.
Regarding the second T20I match, Waseem's aggressive start of 53 runs off 32 balls, including four fours and three sixes, along with Aryan Lakra's 63, significantly contributed to the hosts posting a total of 166 runs while batting first.
In response, Afghanistan kept losing wickets at regular intervals, sliding from 62-2 to 99-6, with Mohammad Nabi left stranded at one end. Requiring 12 runs off two deliveries, Nabi was dismissed for 47 off 27 balls, resulting in his team's 11-run loss.
UAE have made a strong comeback in the series after losing the first match. With the series at stake, they will be optimistic about their chances of clinching victory in the deciding match on January 2nd.