Zadran’s unbeaten 95 and Nabi’s career-best spell secure 82-run win in final group match
Kabul | By Taieb Khatizwal
Afghanistan concluded their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign with an emphatic 82-run victory over Canada, combining batting authority and clinical bowling in their final group-stage fixture.
Put into bat first, the AfghanAtalan produced a commanding total of 200 for 4 in 20 overs. Ibrahim Zadran anchored the innings with an unbeaten 95 off 56 deliveries, striking seven fours and five sixes. The knock marked his highest individual score in T20 internationals and the highest by an Afghan batter in a T20 World Cup innings. It was also his 16th fifty-plus score in T20Is, the most by an Afghan player in the format.
Sediqullah Atal added 44 runs, Rahmanullah Gurbaz contributed 30, and Azmatullah Omarzai chipped in with 13 to consolidate the platform laid at the top of the order.
Defending the target, Afghanistan’s bowlers delivered a disciplined performance. Mohammad Nabi produced career-best figures of 4 for 7 to dismantle Canada’s batting lineup. Rashid Khan claimed 2 for 19, while Azmatullah Omarzai and Mujeeb Ur Rahman picked up one wicket each to complete a comprehensive bowling display.
Zadran was named Player of the Match and dedicated the award to outgoing head coach Jonathan Trott, who oversaw his final match in charge of the national side.
Afghanistan finish their T20 World Cup campaign with two victories and two narrow defeats, results that ultimately denied them a place in the Super Eights. Nevertheless, based on the ICC T20I Team Rankings, Afghanistan have secured direct qualification for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2028, scheduled to be held in Australia and New Zealand.