Afghanistan secured an 82-run victory over Canada in Chennai, finishing their T20 World Cup campaign on a high note despite being eliminated from the Super Eight contention earlier in the tournament.
Ibrahim Zadran led Afghanistan’s batting with an unbeaten 95, his highest score in a T20 World Cup, guiding his team past 200 for four, the first time Afghanistan has surpassed the total in the tournament.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Zadran formed a strong partnership in the middle overs, accelerating the run rate and taking full advantage of Canada’s occasional loose deliveries and fielding errors throughout the innings.
Nabi’s Vintage Bowling Spell
Mohammad Nabi delivered a remarkable bowling performance, claiming four wickets for just seven runs, including a hat-trick-like sequence that dismantled Canada’s middle order and showcased his enduring skill despite being 41 years old.
Nabi’s earlier wickets included Yuvraj Samra, who fell for 17, and Harsh Thaker, dismissed after scoring a patient 30 off 23 balls, effectively ending Canada’s chances of chasing down Afghanistan’s target.
The spinner’s economy and variations proved unplayable on Chennai’s pitch, restricting the Canadian batters while allowing Afghanistan to maintain control and dictate the tempo during the final overs of the match.
Farewell for Veteran Players
The match also marked the international farewells of Jonathan Trott, Canada’s Navneet Dhaliwal, and Ravinderpal Singh, all of whom received guard-of-honour tributes for their contributions to Associate and international cricket.
Trott concluded his tenure as Afghanistan’s coach, leaving behind a team shaped into competitive world-beaters, while Dhaliwal retired as Canada’s leading scorer in T20 cricket, concluding a career spanning multiple World Cups.
A Changing of the Guard
Afghanistan’s younger players, including Azmatullah Omarzai and Rashid Khan, demonstrated the emergence of the next generation, maintaining composure and skill throughout the innings while building on the legacy of veterans like Nabi.
Despite missing out on the Super Eight, Afghanistan’s performance against Canada highlighted the depth of talent, disciplined execution in batting and bowling, and the continued promise for future T20 World Cups.
