The MA Chidambaram Stadium witnessed fireworks on Thursday as Afghanistan amassed 200 for 6, setting Canada 201 to win in T20 World Cup 2026’s penultimate group stage clash. Star opener Ibrahim Zadran stole the show with 95* (56b, 7×4, 5×6), his aggressive strokeplay just 5 runs shy of a memorable century.
With playoff hopes dashed, Afghanistan looked to bow out winningly after defeats to New Zealand and South Africa, bookended by a UAE victory.
Canada, winless in three, absorbed heavy losses across the board.
Forced to bat, Gurbaz-Zadran opener yielded 47 quick runs before Gurbaz holed out on 30. Naib’s 1 compounded early trouble at 49/2.
Zadran steadied with Atal’s counterattacking 44 (32b), their 95-run alliance turning momentum. Final push with Omarzai (13) sealed a strong total.
Jaskaran Singh’s 3/52 headlined Canada’s effort.
Teams: Afghanistan – Gurbaz†, Zadran, Naib, Atal, Rasooli, Omarzai, Nabi, Khan (c), Mujeeb, Ziaur Rahman, Ahmadzai. Canada – Samra, Bajwa (c), Dhaliwal, Thaker, Kirton, Movva†, Zafar, Heyliger, J Singh, Sana, Patel.
All eyes on Canada’s response in this pride-restoring showdown.