Mohammad Nabi’s dream spell of 4 wickets for just 7 runs headlined Afghanistan’s crushing 82-run victory over Canada in the T20 World Cup at MA Chidambaram Stadium. This emphatic win ranks as their fourth biggest by runs in the tournament, underlining their evolution into a cricketing powerhouse.
Sent in to bat, Afghanistan overcame early jolts to amass 200/4. Openers Gurbaz (30 off 20, 5×4) and Zadran built momentum with 47 runs, but quick losses of Naib (1) tested resolve. Enter Sedikullah Atal (44 off 32) and the hero Zadran (95* off 56, 7×4, 5×6), whose 95-run alliance turned the game. Jaskaran Singh’s 3/?? was Canada’s lone bright spot.
Canada’s batting imploded against Afghanistan’s spin web. Nabi’s parsimonious 4/7 – third in Afghan T20 WC annals – dismantled the top order, with Rashid Khan (2 wickets), Omarzai, and Mujeeb chipping in. Thaker (30 off 24) and Zafar (28) resisted briefly, but 118/8 was never enough.
Historically, this eclipses many feats: Afghanistan’s top wins are 130 runs (Scotland 2021), 125 (Uganda 2024), 84 (NZ 2024). Nabi joins elite company behind Farooqi (5/8 vs Uganda) and Mujeeb (5/20 vs Scotland). As the dust settles in Chennai, Afghanistan’s blend of experience and youth promises more fireworks ahead.