Afghanistan Beats Canada by 82 Runs in T20 World Cup on Thursday

Afghanistan scored 200 runs, their highest T20 World Cup score ever, beating Canada by 82 runs. This is a big win for Afghanistan's final match.
By Newsroom | Cricket, International Sports |

Afghanistan concluded their T20 World Cup campaign with a decisive 82-run victory over Canada on Thursday. The match saw strong performances from Afghanistan's Ibrahim Zadran, who scored an unbeaten 95, and Mohammad Nabi, who took four wickets for seven runs. Canada finished the tournament without securing a win.

T20 World Cup 2026: Mohammad Nabi, Ibrahim Zadran power Afghanistan to 82-run win over Canada - 1

Afghanistan Sets High Score, Canada Falters

Afghanistan batted first and posted a significant total of 200 for 4 in their allotted 20 overs, their highest score in a T20 World Cup. Ibrahim Zadran anchored the innings, scoring 95 not out off 56 deliveries, with contributions from Rahmanullah Gurbaz (30) and Sediqullah Atal (44 off 32 balls). Afghanistan's batting effort included aggressive late runs and effective strike rotation, capitalizing on fielding lapses from Canada, which cost them an estimated 62 runs due to dropped catches.

T20 World Cup 2026: Mohammad Nabi, Ibrahim Zadran power Afghanistan to 82-run win over Canada - 2

Canada's pursuit of the target struggled from the outset. Despite a bright start from Yuvraj Samra and Dilpreet Bajwa, they lost wickets quickly. Mujeeb Ur Rahman took a wicket in the powerplay, and Mohammad Nabi further disrupted Canada's lineup. Afghanistan's spinners, including Rashid Khan, applied consistent pressure, leading to the collapse of Canada's middle order.

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T20 World Cup 2026: Mohammad Nabi, Ibrahim Zadran power Afghanistan to 82-run win over Canada - 3

Key Performances Define the Match

  • Ibrahim Zadran's Batting: Zadran's unbeaten 95 was the cornerstone of Afghanistan's innings. He displayed poise and power, with proper timing and execution, scoring through boundaries while protecting his wicket. This marked his second consecutive fifty in the tournament.

  • Mohammad Nabi's Bowling: Nabi delivered a vintage spell, taking four wickets for just seven runs in his four overs. His control over length and variation proved difficult for Canada's batsmen.

  • Canada's Early Struggles: Canada lost key wickets within the powerplay, including Navneet Dhaliwal, who departed for a duck in his final international game. The team's batting order folded under the relentless pressure from Afghanistan's bowlers, particularly the spinners.

Canada's Tournament Conclusion

For Canada, the match marked the end of their T20 World Cup campaign without a victory. Navneet Dhaliwal, playing his final international match at the age of 37, received a guard of honour. Despite flashes of early aggression from players like Yuvraj Samra and Dilpreet Bajwa, the team was unable to build momentum against Afghanistan's disciplined bowling attack. Afghanistan's victory concluded their own tournament on a positive note and, according to one report, brought an end to Jonathan Trott's era as head coach for Afghanistan, leaving them with "more questions than they came to India with."

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T20 World Cup 2026: Mohammad Nabi, Ibrahim Zadran power Afghanistan to 82-run win over Canada - 4

Analysis of Strategic Play

Afghanistan's ability to capitalize on favorable conditions and maintain composure under pressure was evident. Their strategy involved rotating the strike effectively and accelerating towards the end of their innings, setting a formidable target. The control exhibited by Zadran, Gurbaz, and Atal in building the innings provided a strong foundation.

Canada's bowling attack struggled to contain Afghanistan's batsmen, particularly in the latter stages of the innings. Their fielding also proved to be a detriment, with dropped catches allowing Afghanistan to extend their lead.

In their bowling effort, Afghanistan's spinners, Nabi and Khan, were instrumental in dismantling Canada's batting lineup. Nabi's accuracy and variations, coupled with Khan's pressure, stifled any hope of a comeback. The effective use of the spin attack showcased Afghanistan's strength and experience in exploiting match conditions.

Sources used for this report:

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How did Afghanistan do against Canada in the T20 World Cup on Thursday?
Afghanistan won by a large margin of 82 runs. They scored 200 runs and Canada could not reach the target.
Q: Who were the best players for Afghanistan in the match against Canada?
Ibrahim Zadran was the top scorer with 95 runs not out. Mohammad Nabi was excellent with the ball, taking 4 wickets for only 7 runs.
Q: What was Afghanistan's score against Canada?
Afghanistan scored 200 runs for 4 wickets in their 20 overs. This was their highest score in the T20 World Cup.
Q: How did Canada perform in their last T20 World Cup match against Afghanistan?
Canada lost the match by 82 runs and did not win any games in the tournament. They struggled to score runs against Afghanistan's bowling.
Q: Did any Canadian players get a special mention in the match against Afghanistan?
Yes, Navneet Dhaliwal, who played his last international game, received a guard of honour before the match.
Q: What does this win mean for Afghanistan's T20 World Cup campaign?
This win was Afghanistan's final match of the tournament. They ended their campaign with a strong victory.