Ibrahim Zadran struck his T20I best of 95 not out from 56 balls, and Mohammad Nabi finished with career-best T20I figures of 4 for 7 as Afghanistan thrashed Canada by 82 runs in their final Group D match at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on February 19, 2026. Afghanistan posted their highest score at a T20 World Cup — 200 for 4 — with Zadran and Sediqullah Atal’s 95-run partnership for the third wicket becoming Afghanistan’s highest for that wicket in T20 World Cup history.
In response, Canada were restricted to 118 for 8 in 20 overs as Nabi decimated the middle order and Rashid Khan chipped in with two wickets. The match also marked head coach Jonathan Trott’s final game in charge of Afghanistan, as the team signed off their campaign in style after the disappointment of missing the Super Eight due to a dramatic double Super Over defeat to South Africa.
Table of Contents
Match Summary
Canada won the toss and elected to bowl first, citing the dew factor at Chepauk. Afghanistan lost Rahmanullah Gurbaz for 30 off 20 balls after a 47-run opening stand, but Zadran and Atal put together a 95-run third-wicket partnership to lay the platform. Atal fell for 44 off 32 balls, holing out to long-on off Jaskaran Singh. Zadran remained unbeaten, hitting two fours off the last two deliveries to take Afghanistan to 200 for 4 — their first time crossing 200 in the tournament.
In the chase, Canada’s leading run-scorer Navneet Dhaliwal departed for a five-ball duck in his final international innings. Yuvraj Samra (17) fell to Nabi, who then removed Nicholas Kirton (caught by Zadran) and later Harsh Thaker (30) and Dilon Heyliger to finish with 4 for 7. Saad Bin Zafar (28) and Thaker briefly resisted with a 53-run sixth-wicket stand, but Rashid Khan and Nabi ensured Afghanistan signed off with an 82-run victory.
Match Scorecard
| Team | Score | Overs | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | 200/4 | 20.0 | Won by 82 runs |
| Canada | 118/8 | 20.0 | — |
Player of the Match: Ibrahim Zadran (95* off 56) Venue: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai Date: February 19, 2026 Toss: Canada won; elected to bowl Afghanistan changes: Abdollah Ahmadzai for Noor Ahmad Canada changes: Kaleem Sana for Shivam Sharma Jonathan Trott: Final game as Afghanistan head coach Historic context: Afghanistan’s highest T20 WC score; Zadran’s highest individual score for AFG in T20 WC; Nabi’s best T20I figures
First Innings: Afghanistan’s Batting (200/4 in 20 Overs)
Gurbaz and Zadran Provide Cautious Start
Both Afghanistan openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran provided their team a cautious start. Gurbaz set the tone with some beautiful boundaries, racing to 16 off 13 balls. The 47-run opening stand could have been capped on 9 in the second over had keeper Shreyas Movva taken a steepling catch to remove Gurbaz for 7. Gurbaz eventually departed after scoring 30 off 20 balls.
Zadran and Atal Build Platform — 95-Run Stand
Ibrahim Zadran and Sediqullah Atal stitched an unbeaten 37-run stand for the third wicket through the first ten overs, playing at a run rate of over 8. Zadran got to his half-century off 33 balls — his second consecutive fifty in the tournament after the one against UAE. Afghanistan were in a good position with 10 wickets in bank.
Atal also opened his arms as Afghanistan marched towards a likely 200-plus total. The 95-run partnership between Zadran and Atal became Afghanistan’s highest for the third wicket in T20 World Cup history, surpassing the record of 87 between Zadran and Gurbaz. Jaskaran Singh eventually snared Atal, who holed out to long-on for 44 off 32 balls.
Zadran’s Unbeaten 95 — Highest Individual Score
Ibrahim Zadran batted through the innings and hasn’t always middled it, but he kept hitting and hitting. He was the rock around which Afghanistan constructed this innings. His unbeaten 95 became the highest individual score for Afghanistan at a T20 World Cup, surpassing Gurbaz’s 84.
Zadran was dropped in the 15th over when blazing high towards long-off, but he shook off the error by launching the very next delivery over extra cover for his third six. He finished the innings with two boundaries off the last two deliveries to take Afghanistan to 200 runs — their first time crossing 200 in the tournament.
Afghanistan Batting Performance
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk) | 30 | 20 | 16 off 13 early; dropped on 7 (Movva steepling catch missed); beautiful boundaries |
| Ibrahim Zadran | 95* | 56 | T20I best; highest individual AFG score in T20 WC (surpassed Gurbaz’s 84); 33-ball fifty (second consecutive); 95-run stand with Atal; dropped in 15th (high to long-off); next ball six over extra cover; two boundaries off last two balls; batted through innings |
| Sediqullah Atal | 44 | 32 | 95-run 3rd-wicket stand with Zadran (AFG record for wicket in T20 WC); holed out long-on Jaskaran |
| Gulbadin Naib | — | — | — |
| Azmatullah Omarzai | — | — | Came in after Atal dismissed |
Opening stand: 47 runs (Gurbaz 30 off 20) 3rd wicket stand: 95 runs (AFG T20 WC record, beat 87) Final 5 overs: 69 runs (2 wickets) 200/4: First time AFG crossed 200 in T20 World Cup
Canada Bowling Performance
| Bowler | Runs | Wickets | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jaskaran Singh | 52 | 3 | Most runs conceded in an innings for CAN in T20 WC (surpassed his own 49); Atal (long-on); tapped in 18th and 20th overs |
| Kaleem Sana | — | 0 | Recalled for Shivam Sharma; gave away too many boundaries |
| Dilon Heyliger | — | 0 | — |
| Ansh Patel | — | 0 | — |
Two drops: Cost 62 runs ultimately (Gurbaz on 7, Zadran in 15th)
Second Innings: Canada’s Chase (118/8 in 20 Overs)
Early Strikes — Dhaliwal’s Final Innings a Duck
Navneet Dhaliwal’s final innings before retirement was a five-ball duck. The Canadian stalwart endured a brief stay in what was his final international innings, chipping one straight to backward point to depart. Yuvraj Samra — who couldn’t build on his record-breaking 110 against New Zealand — struck the first ball of the chase for four but was removed for 17 having.
Nabi Decimates Middle Order — Vintage Performance
Veteran spinner Mohammad Nabi was introduced and made an immediate impact, removing Samra for 17. Samra opened up his front foot stance and tried to slog into the leg side but couldn’t connect. Nabi struck again in the eighth over when Nicholas Kirton mistimed an effort, safely pouched by first-innings hero Zadran. This Nabi spell really killed off the chase. The 41-year-old delivered a vintage performance with spell figures that proved to be his best in T20Is.
Brief Resistance — Thaker and Saad Build 53
Wickets continued to tumble as the fifth fell quickly when Ziaur produced a fine catch in the deep to dismiss Shreyas Movva. Harsh Thaker briefly counterattacked with flair, collecting a four and six off Ziaur immediately, and alongside Saad Bin Zafar built a steady 53-run partnership for the sixth wicket — Canada’s highest for that wicket in T20 World Cup history, breaking the record of 21.
The stand was eventually broken by Nabi, who returned to end Thaker’s resistance at 30. Saad (28) soon followed, undone by a beauty from Rashid Khan. Nabi capped off his spell with his fourth wicket by removing Heyliger with the first ball of his final over. Canada eventually finished on 118 for 8 in 20 overs.
Canada Batting Performance
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Navneet Dhaliwal | 0 | 5 | Final international innings; chipped to backward point; five-ball duck |
| Yuvraj Samra | 17 | — | First ball four; couldn’t build on record 110 vs NZ; removed by Nabi |
| Dilpreet Bajwa (c) | — | — | Opening partner of Samra |
| Harsh Thaker | 30 | 24 | Four and six off Ziaur; 53-run 6th-wicket stand with Saad (CAN T20 WC record); removed by Nabi |
| Nicholas Kirton | — | — | Mistimed to Zadran off Nabi (8th over) |
| Shreyas Movva (wk) | — | — | Ziaur fine catch in deep |
| Saad Bin Zafar | 28 | — | 53-run stand with Thaker; undone by Rashid beauty |
| Dilon Heyliger | — | — | First ball of Nabi’s final over |
| Jaskaran Singh | 7* | — | Remained unbeaten |
| Ansh Patel | 2* | — | Remained unbeaten; 13-run 9th-wicket stand (CAN T20 WC record, beat 6) |
6th-wicket stand: 53 runs (Thaker-Saad; CAN T20 WC record, beat 21) 9th-wicket stand: 13 runs (Jaskaran-Ansh; CAN T20 WC record, beat 6)
Afghanistan Bowling Performance
| Bowler | Runs | Wickets | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mohammad Nabi | 7 | 4 | Career-best T20I figures; vintage performance at 41; Samra (17), Kirton (Zadran catch), Thaker (30), Heyliger (first ball final over); made immediate impact; killed off chase |
| Rashid Khan (c) | — | 2 | Saad (beauty); most T20 WC matches (12) as captain for AFG (surpassed Nabi) |
| Ziaur Rahman | 24 | 1 | Movva (fine catch in deep); conceded four and six to Thaker |
| Mujeeb Ur Rahman | — | 0 | Kept pressure with other spinners |
| Abdollah Ahmadzai | — | 0 | Replaced Noor Ahmad |
Match-Winning Performances
Ibrahim Zadran — Player of the Match
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Batting | 95* off 56 balls |
| T20I best | Highest individual score for AFG in T20 WC (surpassed Gurbaz’s 84) |
| Fifty | 33 balls (second consecutive after UAE) |
| Partnership | 95-run 3rd-wicket stand with Atal (AFG T20 WC record for wicket) |
| Key moment | Dropped in 15th (high to long-off); next ball six over extra cover |
| Finish | Two boundaries off last two balls to reach 200 |
| Quote | “I enjoyed it, didn’t play better cricket in first two innings. Wanted to back my skills. Pressure is there all the time. I want to put myself in pressure situations and enjoy it. Wanted to play positive cricket, rotate strike and punish bad ball, create partnerships.” |
| Fielding | Caught Kirton off Nabi |
Mohammad Nabi
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Bowling | 4 for 7 in 4 overs |
| Best T20I figures | Career-best; best bowling figures to finish their World Cup |
| Age | 41 years old |
| Impact | Made immediate impact; vintage performance; killed off chase |
| Key wickets | Samra (17), Kirton (Zadran catch), Thaker (30), Heyliger (first ball final over) |
| Context | Wiliest spinner; might be playing final World Cup match; possible final appearance |
Sediqullah Atal
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Batting | 44 off 32 balls |
| Partnership | 95-run 3rd-wicket stand with Zadran (AFG T20 WC record) |
| Dismissal | Holed out long-on Jaskaran |
Read More: T20 World Cup 2026: Brian Bennett and Sikandar Raza’s 45 Power Zimbabwe to Win Over Sri Lanka
FAQs
What was the result of Afghanistan vs Canada at T20 World Cup 2026?
Afghanistan won by 82 runs — Afghanistan posted 200/4 and restricted Canada to 118/8 in 20 overs at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
What were Ibrahim Zadran’s key achievements in this match?
Zadran scored an unbeaten 95 off 56 balls — his T20I best and the highest individual score for Afghanistan at a T20 World Cup, surpassing Gurbaz’s 84.
What were Mohammad Nabi’s bowling figures?
Nabi took 4 for 7 in four overs — his career-best T20I figures — dismissing Samra, Kirton, Thaker and Heyliger to decimate Canada’s middle order.
Was this Jonathan Trott’s final match as Afghanistan coach?
Yes. This match marked Trott’s final game as Afghanistan head coach after guiding them since July 2022, including to the semi-finals at the previous T20 World Cup.
Did Afghanistan or Canada qualify for the Super Eights?
Neither qualified. Afghanistan exited after a dramatic double Super Over defeat to South Africa ended their hopes. Canada finished without a win in the tournament.
