CHENNAI (Dunya News) – Afghanistan ended their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign with an emphatic 82-run win over Canada in their final group-stage match at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Thursday.
Chasing a challenging target of 201, Canada could only manage 118/8 in their allotted 20 overs, despite a 53-run fifth-wicket stand between Harsh Thaker (30 off 24) and Saad Bin Zafar (28 off 26). Openers Yuvraj Samra (17) and captain Dilpreet Bajwa (13), along with Nicholas Kirton (10), were the only other batsmen to reach double figures against a disciplined Afghanistan attack.
Canada captain Dilpreet Bajwa’s decision to field first backfired as Afghanistan posted a commanding 200/4 in 20 overs. Jaskaran Singh briefly pegged Afghanistan back by dismissing Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Gulbadin Naib in the powerplay, reducing them to 49/2.
Sediqullah Atal then joined Ibrahim Zadran in a crucial 95-run partnership, putting Afghanistan in control. Atal contributed 44 off 32 balls with two sixes and two fours before falling to Jaskaran Singh in the 16th over. Zadran added an unbeaten 95 off 56 deliveries, featuring seven fours and five sixes, guiding Afghanistan past the 200-run mark.
Zadran’s innings, combined with brief but vital partnerships with Azmatullah Omarzai and Darwish Rasooli, ensured Afghanistan set a target beyond Canada’s reach. His outstanding performance earned him the Player of the Match award.
Mohammad Nabi spearheaded Afghanistan’s bowling, claiming four wickets for just seven runs in four overs. Skipper Rashid Khan added two scalps, while Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Azmatullah Omarzai chipped in with one wicket each. Jaskaran Singh finished as Canada’s most successful bowler with three wickets but conceded 52 runs.
Both Afghanistan and Canada had already been eliminated from the tournament before this match, making the encounter a display of pride and skill rather than tournament progression.