AFG vs CAN, T20 World Cup 2026: Zadran, Nabi power Afghanistan to 82-run win over Canada

Opener Ibrahim Zadran’s career-best T20I score and Mohammad Nabi’s four-wicket haul laid the foundation for Afghanistan’s 82-run win against Canada in their T20 World Cup 2026 Group D game at 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 four.

Canada never posed a real challenge in the chase after its top-order batters were left confounded by Afghanistan’s imperious spin attack.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman claimed his customary wicket in the PowerPlay before Nabi, and Rashid Khan wrung the life out of the Canadian pursuit.

Nabi, in particular, was a tough nut for the Canadian batters to crack. The veteran off-spinner bowled slower through the air with immaculate control over his length, conceding just seven runs from his four-over spell.

However, Nabi was denied a maiden T20I fifer after wicketkeeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz dropped a skier in the spinner’s final over. But, by then, he had ensured that Afghanistan would sign off from the tournament with a win.

Earlier, Zadran entertained a lively Chepauk crowd, which counted more than 18,000, with a pleasing mix of deft touches and assertive big hits. The 24-year-old employed delicate late cuts and straight-elbowed lofted shots with equal poise.

Zadran began slowly, adding just 14 runs from 14 balls in the PowerPlay. Meanwhile, his opening partner, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, sparkled with a streak of off-side boundaries.

Afghanistan’s progress, though, was impeded by a double strike from pacer Jaskaran Singh Buttar in the sixth over, which consumed Gurbaz and Gulbadin Naib.

But the Afghan innings was reinvigorated by a 95-run third-wicket partnership between Zadran and Sediqullah Atal. The left-right pair navigated through the middle overs, negating the Canadian spinners with frequent boundaries.

Despite losing a bit of steam, Zadran propelled Afghanistan to the 200-run mark, which eventually proved to be more than sufficient.

Published on Feb 19, 2026