The art of picking wickets in a batter-dominant format like T20 cricket is extremely valuable and over twelve editions of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), we have witnessed some noteworthy contributions from bowlers who helped their teams achieve glory. 

Shakib Al Hasan, who has represented multiple franchises over the years, has the most wickets in Bangladesh Premier League history with 149 wickets in 113 matches. The left-arm spinner was also the first bowler to complete 100 wickets in the BPL.

He finished as the leading wicket-taker twice, in 2017 (22 wickets) and 2018-19 (23 wickets) and won the Player of the Tournament award four times, more than any other player in BPL history. 

Rubel Hossain, fourth with 110 wickets, represented franchises from Dhaka, Rangpur, Sylhet and Chittagong and was always among the wickets. He shared the lead in the 2019-20 edition, one of five bowlers on 20 wickets.

Former Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza took 98 wickets in the tournament. The veteran represented multiple franchises since the inception of the tournament in 2012, and won it with three different franchises – Dhaka Gladiators (2012 and 2013), Comilla Victorians (2015) and Rangpur Riders (2017). 

Taskin Ahmed has climbed to second with 134 wickets. He led the 2025 season with 25 wickets, including 7/19 against Dhaka on 2 January 2025, the only seven-wicket haul in BPL history.

His international teammate Mustafizur Rahman is third with 121 wickets and is widely considered as one of the best T20 bowlers in the world. 

Among overseas cricketers, Afghanistan’s Mohammad Nabi is the leading wicket-taker with 83, having played for franchises including Comilla Victorians, Fortune Barishal and Rangpur Riders.

Here’s a look at the leading wicket-takers in Bangladesh’s premier domestic T20 tournament. 

Most wickets in Bangladesh Premier League (BPL)

Name

Matches

Wickets

Shakib Al Hasan

113

149

Taskin Ahmed

97

134

Mustafizur Rahman

92

121

Rubel Hossain

89

110

Mashrafe Mortaza

110

98

Arafat Sunny

105

97

Mohammad Saifuddin

76

96

Mahedi Hasan

100

88

Shoriful Islam

60

87

Mehidy Hasan Miraz

116

84

Photo Credit: Alamy