Zadran and Nabi lead team to spectacular T20 win
Afghanistan ended their T20 World Cup campaign with a resounding 82-run victory against Canada in Chennai. This dominant performance served as a perfect farewell gift for departing head coach Jonathan Trott. Batting first, the team posted a formidable total of 200 for 4, heavily driven by an incredible unbeaten knock from top-order batsman Ibrahim Zadran.
During this highly anticipatedAfghanistan vs Canadaclash, Zadran smashed 95 runs off just 33 deliveries. He built a solid partnership with Sediqullah Atal, taking full advantage of some costly dropped catches by the Canadian fielders. Fans followingOdia sports updateswere treated to a batting masterclass as Zadran hit boundaries at will, officially recording the highest individual score for his nation inT20 World Cup 2026history.
Chasing a massive target of 201 proved impossible for Canada. Their batting lineup struggled from the very beginning. Veteran all-rounder Mohammad Nabi produced a magical bowling spell, claiming four wickets while giving away only seven runs. At 41 years old, he became the oldest player to secure a four-wicket haul in an ICC event. Despite decent middle-order efforts from Harsh Thaker and Saad Bin Zafar, the Canadian side could only manage 118 for 8 in their twenty overs. Canada’s Navneet Dhaliwal played his final international innings but unfortunately departed for a duck, capping off a tough night for the North American side.
The victory carried heavy emotional weight for the winning squad. After receiving the Player of the Match award, Zadran immediately dedicated it to Jonathan Trott. He praised the coach for guiding the team to historic heights over the last few years. While readers followingcricket news Odishamight have expected Afghanistan to reach the semi-finals this year, this thrashing offered a very bright silver lining.
As the players celebrated, cricket experts wondered about the future ofMohammad Nabi bowlingat the international level. Known affectionately as "The President," Nabi showed he still possesses immense skill and passion for the game, remaining a crucial pillar for his country.
Image Source: ESPN / ICC
