T20 World Cup 2026 | Zadran, Nabi steal the show as Afghans sign off in style

Opener Ibrahim Zadran’s career-best T20I score and Mohammad Nabi’s four-wicket haul were the highlights of Afghanistan’s 82-run win against Canada in a T20 World Cup game at Chepauk on Thursday (February 19, 2026).

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.

Nabi was denied a maiden T20I fife-for after wicketkeeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz dropped a skier in his final over. But, by then, the veteran had ensured that Afghanistan would sign off from the tournament with a win.

Earlier, Zadran entertained a lively 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. 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 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.

The scores: Afghanistan 200/4 in 20 overs (Rahmanullah Gurbaz 30, Ibrahim Zadran 95 n.o., Sediqullah Atal 44, Jaskaran Singh 3/52) bt Canada 118/8 in 20 overs (Harsh Thaker 30, Mohammad Nabi 4/7, Rashid Khan 2/19).

Toss: Canada; PoM: Zadran.