Over the next 16 years, Afghanistan has zoomed far ahead of Canada in the global circuit, culminating in a landmark semifinal appearance at the 2024 T20 World Cup.
But, on Thursday, as Afghanistan and Canada clash in a T20 World Cup 2026 group-stage encounter at the Chepauk, the two sides will once again be on the same footing, at least within the confines of tournament cricket’s jeopardy.
Both Afghanistan and Canada are out of the reckoning for the World Cup’s Super Eight stage, rendering Thursday’s meeting an inconsequential one.
ALSO READ | Rohit Paudel: Have to play lot of games against good sides, especially after T20 WC
In fact, both teams had their elimination confirmed simultaneously on Tuesday, after Canada conceded defeat to New Zealand at the Chepauk.
Nevertheless, Canada will take confidence from its batting performance against the Kiwis, headlined by a maiden T20 hundred from 19-year-old Yuvraj Samra.
The mood in the Afghan camp, though, is likely to be more desolate. Having experienced the highs of global success in the 2024 edition, this World Cup has been a bruising return to reality for the Rashid Khan-led side.
The setback would be all the more stinging for Afghanistan, considering how close it came to overcoming South Africa in Ahmedabad in a double super over thriller. The Asian side would have been very much in the qualification race if that game had tipped the other way.
“I think we haven’t taken smart decisions when we are under pressure,” said Rashid on Wednesday. “That’s something which went wrong for us. I think when put under pressure, we lose our way. In T20, it’s very hard to come back from that. Those are the things we need to improve when playing against good teams.”
On Thursday, Afghanistan will also bid farewell to its coach Jonathan Trott, who will leave the side after a stint that lasted over three years.
“We had some unbelievable games and tours with him. He has worked so hard with the guys, every single one. I think everyone will miss him so much. I think he played a main role in taking this team on the right path,” said Rashid.
Published on Feb 18, 2026
Discover more from News Link360
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
