Zadran, Nabi Help Afghanistan End T20 World Cup Campaign with Big Win Over Canada

Afghanistan completed a big win over Canada to sign off from the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 in style. Ibrahim Zadran was their star batter, as he scored unbeaten 95 runs in the first innings to help Afghanistan post 200 on the board.

Batting first, Afghanistan looked in complete control against Canada, as both openers played aggressively in the Powerplay. Rahmanullah Gurbaz was again looking impressive, but he lost his wicket in the 6th over after scoring quick 30 runs.

Ibrahim Zadran then forged a solid partnership with Sediqullah Atal to take the scoreboard forward. The duo played confidently to put the pressure back on Canada, giving Afghanistan a solid foundation to march towards a big total.

Sediqullah Atal was looking well set to score a fifty, but he lost his wicket in the 16th over after making 44 runs. By then, Ibrahim Zadran was well settled at the crease, ready to launch big boundaries toward the end. He took advantage of this opportunity and played stunning shots to give Afghanistan a strong impetus. Due to that, the Afghans posted a big total of 200 on the board, with Ibrahim Zadran remaining unbeaten on 95 runs.

The reply of Canada in the second innings was very disappointing, as they failed to match the firepower of Afghanistan. The top order was removed quickly in the Powerplay, as spinners and Omarzai bowled smartly with sharp spells. Harsh Thaker then batted sensibly to hold one end, but he did not receive support from the other batters. As a result, Afghanistan took regular wickets to keep the pressure on Canada, making the chase increasingly difficult.

The bowling masterclass from Mohammad Nabi (4/7)and Rashid Khan (2/19) was exceptional toward the end, as they removed Canada’s lower middle order cheaply. This helped Afghanistan to restrict them on a low total and win the match by 82 runs. It is only their second victory in the tournament after defeating the UAE earlier.