Opener Ibrahim Zadran’s career-best T20I rating and Mohammad Nabi’s four-wicket haul laid the muse for Afghanistan’s 82-run win towards Canada of their T20 World Cup 2026 Group D recreation on the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium on Thursday.
Zadran’s unbeaten 95 was the cornerstone of Afghanistan’s first-innings batting effort that culminated at 200 for 4.
Canada by no means posed an actual problem within the chase after its top-order batters had been left confounded by Afghanistan’s imperious spin assault.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman claimed his customary wicket within the PowerPlay earlier than Nabi, and Rashid Khan wrung the life out of the Canadian pursuit.
Nabi, specifically, was a tricky nut for the Canadian batters to crack. The veteran off-spinner bowled slower via the air with immaculate management over his size, conceding simply seven runs from his four-over spell.
Nevertheless, Nabi was denied a maiden T20I fifer after wicketkeeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz dropped a skier within the spinner’s last over. However, by then, he had ensured that Afghanistan would log off from the event with a win.
Earlier, Zadran entertained a full of life Chepauk crowd, which counted greater than 18,000, with a delightful mixture of deft touches and assertive large hits. The 24-year-old employed delicate late cuts and straight-elbowed lofted photographs with equal poise.
Zadran started slowly, including simply 14 runs from 14 balls within the PowerPlay. In the meantime, his opening associate, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, sparkled with a streak of off-side boundaries.
Afghanistan’s progress, although, was impeded by a double strike from pacer Jaskaran Singh Buttar within the sixth over, which consumed Gurbaz and Gulbadin Naib.
However the Afghan innings was reinvigorated by a 95-run third-wicket partnership between Zadran and Sediqullah Atal. The left-right pair navigated via the center overs, negating the Canadian spinners with frequent boundaries.
Regardless of shedding a little bit of steam, Zadran propelled Afghanistan to the 200-run mark, which ultimately proved to be greater than enough.
Scores
The scores: Afghanistan 200/4 in 20 overs (Rahmanullah Gurbaz 30, Ibrahim Zadran 95*, Sediqullah Atal 44, Jaskaran Singh Buttar 3/52) beat Canada 118/8 in 20 overs (Harsh Thaker 30, Mohammad Nabi 4/7, Rashid Khan 2/19); Toss: Canada; PoM: Ibrahim Zadran.
Printed on Feb 19, 2026