Brief Results: Afghanistan (200/4 in 20 overs) beat Canada (118/8 in 20 overs) by 82 runs in Chennai in a Group D match.
AFG vs CAN T20 WORLD CUP 2026: MAIN | SCORECARD
Afghanistan signed off their FIFA T20 World Cup 2026 campaign in emphatic fashion, defeating Canada by 82 runs at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Wednesday. While the 2024 semi-finalists fell just short of qualifying for the Super 8s, the comprehensive victory provided a fitting and emotional farewell for head coach Jonathan Trott, who has taken their cricket to the next level over the past few years.
Afghanistan piled up an impressive 200 for 4 after being asked to bat, with Ibrahim Zadran leading the charge. Zadran remained unbeaten on a stunning 95 off 56 balls, hitting seven fours and five sixes, narrowly missing out on a well-deserved century. He anchored the innings beautifully, first adding 47 runs for the opening wicket with Rahmanullah Gurbaz providing the early impetus with a brisk 30 off 20 deliveries.
Then Zadran found a capable ally in Sediqullah Atal, who had come through the ranks in the last 12 months. The duo put together a crucial 95-run partnership for the third wicket, a stand that effectively knocked Canada out of the contest. Atal contributed a fluent 44 off 32 balls, mixing caution with calculated aggression.
Late cameos from Azmatullah Omarzai and Darwish Rasooli ensured that Afghanistan finished well. Jaskaran Singh picked up three wickets for Canada but conceded 52 runs in his four overs.
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Canada never really threatened in their pursuit of 201. Afghanistan’s bowlers struck at regular intervals and dismantled the top order in the power bowl. Mujeeb Ur Rahman removed Dilpreet Bajwa early while Omarzai dismissed Navneet Dhaliwal who played his last international match. In a touching moment, captain Rashid Khan shook hands with Dhaliwal as he left.
However, the star with the ball was veteran all-rounder Mohammad Nabi. Rolling back the years, Nabi produced a masterclass in control and variation, finishing with extraordinary figures of 4 for 7 in his four overs.
He tore through the middle order, dismissing Yuvraj Samra, Harsh Thaker, Nicholas Kirton and Dilon Heyliger to snuff out any faint hopes of a comeback. He could have even claimed five goals if Gurbaz had not converted a chance in the 17th shootout.
Rashid Khan took two for 19, including the wicket of Saad Bin Zafar, as Canada were restricted to 118 for 8 in their 20 overs. Although Harsh Thaker’s 30 and Bin Zafar’s 28 offered brief resistance, the target was always out of reach.
For Afghanistan, this victory meant more than just two points. It was a statement of tenacity and a tribute to Trott’s tenure. While their journey to the World Cup ended earlier than expected, they left Chennai with pride and their coach a well-deserved farewell.
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Issued by:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published on:
February 19, 2026