Afghanistan concluded their ICC T20 World Cup 2026 campaign with a dominant 82-run victory against Canada in Chennai. Although both teams had already missed out on the Super 8s, the Afghans made sure to end their journey on a high note.
Consequently, this emphatic win served as a fitting farewell for their departing head coach, Jonathan Trott.
Ibrahim Zadran’s Masterclass
The absolute highlight of the match was opener Ibrahim Zadran. He played a scintillating knock to record his career-best T20I score.
Zadran entertained a lively crowd of over 18,000 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. Initially, he began slowly, adding just 14 runs from his first 14 balls. However, he soon shifted gears. The 24-year-old employed delicate late cuts and assertive big hits with equal poise.
Ultimately, Zadran finished unbeaten on 95 off 56 deliveries. He smashed seven boundaries and five sixes. Furthermore, he anchored a crucial 95-run partnership for the third wicket with Sediqullah Atal, who contributed 44 runs. As a result, Afghanistan posted a formidable first-innings total of 200/4.
Nabi and Rashid Choke the Chase
In response, Canada never posed a real challenge. Their top-order batters were left completely confounded by Afghanistan’s imperious spin attack.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman claimed his customary wicket in the PowerPlay. Subsequently, Mohammad Nabi and captain Rashid Khan wrung the life out of the Canadian pursuit.
Nabi, in particular, was a tough nut to crack. The veteran off-spinner bowled slower through the air with immaculate control. Incredibly, he conceded just seven runs in his four-over spell and picked up four wickets (4/7).
Nabi was denied a maiden T20I five-wicket haul after wicketkeeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz dropped a difficult catch in his final over. Nevertheless, the veteran had already ensured that Canada would fall hopelessly short. They were eventually restricted to 118/8.
A Proud Farewell
For Afghanistan, this victory meant more than just two points. It was a strong statement of resilience. While their World Cup journey ended sooner than expected, they left the tournament with their pride fully restored.
Brief Scores:
- Afghanistan: 200/4 in 20 overs (Ibrahim Zadran 95*, Sediqullah Atal 44; Jaskaran Singh 3/52)
- Canada: 118/8 in 20 overs (Harsh Thaker 30; Mohammad Nabi 4/7, Rashid Khan 2/19)
Also Read : Pakistan Storms into T20 World Cup Super 8, Completes the Elite List
