Can Shakib Surpass Gayle and Maxwell?

Defying all criticism, Shakib Al Hasan continues to deliver where it matters most — on the cricket field. The Bangladesh all-rounder has now set yet another unique milestone in T20 cricket, winning the Player of the Match award for the 44th time in his career. In doing so, he has already moved past Shoaib Malik and Rashid Khan. The big question now: can Shakib overtake Chris Gayle and Glenn Maxwell?

Playing for Antigua and Barbuda in the Caribbean Premier League, Shakib produced an outstanding all-round performance against St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots. He bowled just two overs, taking three wickets, and added 25 runs off 18 balls with the bat. That display was enough to earn him the match award — his 44th in T20s — equaling Andre Russell’s tally. Notably, Shakib reached the landmark in 457 matches, while Russell took 564 games.

At present, only Alex Hales (45 awards), Kieron Pollard (47), and Glenn Maxwell (48) are ahead of him. At the very top sits Chris Gayle, with a record 60 Player of the Match awards in just 463 appearances. With Gayle retired and Pollard nearing the end of his career, Shakib stands as the most realistic challenger to these records.

However, age may not be on his side. At 38, Shakib is also approaching the twilight of his career. Whether he can climb past Maxwell — or even Gayle’s towering record — remains uncertain. Time alone will reveal if “Number 75” can finish at the very top of T20 cricket’s Player of the Match leaderboard.