Afghanistan vs Canada, Match 39 Match Summary

One last dance! We now have one final league game left, with a bruised Australia taking on Oman in Pallekele, aiming to at least sign off with a win. Before the tournament, this game would have been as one to sharpen their skills ahead of the Super Eights. A loss to Zimbabwe made this a must-win encounter to qualify for the next stage. But another loss to Sri Lanka, all but sealed the Aussies' fate and now, they are left licking their wounds with fans calling for an urgent review of the tournament and the selection policies. As far as Oman are concerned, they have got nothing to lose. They can come out swinging freely and try to give the Kangaroos a return gift back home. Friday, 20th February, 2026, sees the Australia-Oman clash kickoff at 1.30 pm GMT. But our buildup will begin well in advance. So do tune in early. ADIOS! TAKE CARE!

The Chevrons in the limelight again! We might have had three dead rubbers in the day, but we did get some fun and action. In the morning, at Eden Gardens, West Indies did beat Italy but not before the European side bowled its heart out and kept the big hitters under some leash. But the afternoon game stole the day. With the hosts Sri Lanka taking on Zimbabwe at the Premadasa, both coming after resounding wins over Australia, the match had plenty of ups and downs before the Rhodesians eventually got the better of the Islanders, demonstrating that they are not here just to be a part of the mega event. And with the Afghanistan-Canada clash, we come to the end of the triple headers in this edition of the T20 World Cup.

Keep supporting us - The victorious skipper of Afghanistan, RASHID KHAN, is first asked about coach Jonathan Trott. He replies saying that the team had a wonderful time with Trott, adding that it was roughly 4-and-a-half years. Further says that the unit has done some really tremendous things with Jonathan playing a key role. But also stresses that the team will miss Trott. However, quickly adds that's how life is - you cannot be around further. Wishes him all the best but also hopes that in some corner of the world, they will meet soon. On the team's journey in this World Cup, Rashid says that they were well prepared for this competition. Adds that they played unbelievable cricket and came very close to going through to the next round. Goes onto say that the game against South Africa was excellent but that defeat hurt his side a lot. Explains that if you lose the first two games, then it becomes very difficult to come back. However, he also says that you cannot be thinking about it for too long. Adds that they have got some good memories from this tournament as well and would be going home with a smile. Naidoo then asks about the areas of improvement for Afghanistan. The captain identifies a couple of areas. First, he points at the middle order, which he reckons gets stuck sometimes against big teams. Second, he points to their death-over bowling. However, he stresses that this improvement will come only when they play bigger teams in a bilateral series, not just in the World Cups. On a parting message to the fans, RK thanks everyone who came to support his side in Ahmedabad, Chennai and Delhi. Compares them to the feeling of playing in front of a home crowd in Afghanistan. Is grateful for the love and support and thanks everyone again. Ends by saying that Afghanistan will aim to keep playing good cricket and improve, so urges everyone to keep supporting the side.

We have a good camaraderie - The captain of Canada, DILPREET BAJWA, is asked about the friendly relations with Azmatullah Omarzai. He replies saying that they have played franchise cricket together for the same team. Adds that Omarzai is a very good friend of his and so is Noor Ahmad. Further says that all the players know each other and have a good camaraderie. On being asked to sum up the game, Bajwa says that his side started well, but admits that finishing is a problem. Wants his bowlers to learn to do that in the future. Also adds that because of the poor death over bowling, they were left staring at a target above 200. Naidoo then talks about the Afghan spinners. To this, Dilpreet admits that they bowled really well. Says that the Canadian batters knew that it would be challenging, but adds that losing early wickets made it doubly hard to chase down the total. On being asked to summarize Canada in the tournament, the skipper feels that it was a good tournament for certain players. States the case of Yuvraj Samra, who showed what the team has got and so did Ansh Patel and Harsh Thaker. But he adds that as a team, they could not do well as a unit. Naidoo then asks him about the support they received here. To this, DB says that Chennai is always a fan base. Adds that the fans here always want to support good cricket. Ends by saying that it was a tough time in the middle for the team but a good time with the fans.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH - For his swashbuckling unbeaten 95 (56), Afghanistan's IBRAHIM ZADRAN has been adjudged the PLAYER OF THE MATCH. This is also the highest score by an Afghan batter in a Men's T20 World Cup game. On being asked to describe the innings. Ibrahim first thanks the almighty. Says that he didn't play good cricket in the first two games which he expected out of himself. Adds that in this match, he backed himself and his skills and really enjoyed his own innings. Kass Naidoo asks him about the pressure applied by Canada, especially at the end of the Powerplay. To that, Zadran replies that pressure was there and is there all the time, but he wants to put himself in pressure situations and enjoy it. On his game plan, IZ says that he was thinking to play positive cricket, punish the bad balls and rotate the strike. Adds that this is what he was telling his partner as well. Ibrahim Zadran then humbly informs that he wants to dedicate this award to coach JONATHAN TROTT. Details that he has learnt a lot from him and thanks Trott for supporting not just him, but all the Afghan players. Feels sad that this is going to be his last day with the team and wishes him all the best for the future. Ends by saying that the team will miss him very much. And as a special gesture, the organizers call up Trott to share the award with Ibrahim, invoking a roaring applause from the whole Afghan team. Touching.

... THE PRESENTATION ...

Prez keeps getting younger! Not to say that Afghanistan would not have bowled well if the dew had arrived, but with the dew not coming, they became a total beast on a sluggish deck. With the ball holding off the deck, the spinners came into full effect, with 7 out of the 8 wickets picked by the tweakers. 41-year young Mohammad Nabi, fondly called as the President, showed his evergreen quality as he finished with outstanding figures of 4-0-7-4, his best ever at a Men's World Cup. Here came the big difference - Afghanistan played out only 31 dot balls out of 120 legal deliveries. But they bowled 68 to Canada - that's more than double. Please stay tuned for the presentation.

Don't depend on the dew - One of the trickiest things in Indian conditions is to handle the dew. If it comes, the pitch changes totally in the second innings, with the ball almost becoming a bar of soap and bowling becoming extremely difficult. But if dew does not arrive, then that same pitch, especially at certain venues like Chepauk, gets slower and slower. It was the same case in the USA-Netherlands game as well. The Canadian skipper Bajwa was aware of this, and decided to take the punt. Unfortunately for him, the dew just did not arrive and after racing off the blocks to 24 runs in the first 2 overs, they managed just 94/8 in their next 18. There were as many as 5 batters in double digits, but none crossing 30. Only one decent partnership bloomed, with Harsh Thaker and Saad Bin Zafar adding 53 for the 6th wicket, rescuing their side from 48/5 and lending some respectability to the total.

Catches win matches, but... Catches may or may not win you matches. But dropped catches and missed chances certainly cost you games. Canada were very poor in the field, dropping as many as 2 chances, one of Rahmanullah Gurbaz on 7 and the next of Ibrahim Zadran on 54. The first one did not prove to be too costly but the second one hurt them big time. It was the start of the 15th over with Afghanistan's score reading 121/2. One just wonders about the what-ifs. What if the catch had been taken, could Afghanistan have been kept down to 170? Maybe, maybe not.

Importance of a set batter - The Afghan and the Canadian players not just shake hands, but even embrace themselves. It clearly shows the bond they enjoy with one another. The game though, belonged totally to the Asian side. Despite knowing what happened in the USA-Netherlands game, Canada chose to field and found it very tough to bat in the second innings. But their bowling itself was a big let down in the first innings. After starting very nicely, conceding only 86/2 in the first 10 overs, they just could not sustain the pressure on the opposition batters. Ibrahim Zadran played a wonderful knock, batting right till the end, scoring 95 (56). His stand of 95 with Sediqullah Atal, which lasted for nearly 10 overs simply did not allow Canada to come back at all. With wickets in hand and a set batter in the middle, the Afghans had full license as they hammered 79/2 in the last 6 overs.

Smile, because you should - The Afghans manage a smile. They have not been able to smile much during this tournament. For just the second time in their T20 World Cup career, they have managed to end a campaign with a win, with the previous instance coming in 2016, against West Indies in Nagpur. It was a proper performance, with the batting showing its might and then, the bowling just choking things up. One can probably see a tear or two in coach Jonathan Trott's eyes, as he ends his coaching stint with Afghanistan. May not be the same as to what Dav Whatmore did with the Lankans in 1996, but pretty close to a total overhauling of a team's mentality. Well done, sir. Take a bow.

CANADA OVERTURN AN LBW DECISION! These two teams have to be playing each other in backyard cricket. Haven't seen such sportsmanship in international cricket. Everyone is smiling. Bowler, batter, keeper and even the umpire. Full and straight, almost a yorker, around off and middle, Jaskarandeep Singh looked to clear his front leg out of the way and swing the ball over the leg side. But he was beaten for pace this time, as the ball was quick. It thumped into his front pad and the bowler appealed for LBW. Up went the umpire's finger in a flash. Now, the batter immediately took the review and immediately, the bowler burst out laughing, also shaking hands and embracing the batter. However, on the review, the Ball Tracking showed the ball to be missing leg stump! Great scenes all around. AFGHANISTAN WIN BY 82 RUNS!

Pace off again, this time on a fuller length. On leg stump, angling down, Singh is early into his swing and nearly goes through with the shot, but at the last moment, manages to stab it down the deck.

Pace off, short in length outside off, Jaskarandeep Singh looks to cut but is early into his shot and misses.

A run out chance, missed! Slower one, fuller on the pads, Patel works it to short mid-wicket and sets off for the single. The fielder has a shy at the bowler's end but misses.

Oh, that's right on the money from Rahman. A straight yorker, lands it right on the popping crease around middle stump, Ansh Patel does well to dig it out towards cover.

Just back of a length, over off and middle, Patel camps back and just nudges it down to point.

Final over of the contest. Ziaur Rahman to bowl. 2-0-23-0 so far.

Almost a yorker, following the batter down the leg side, Singh looks to swing hard but misses. The ball goes beneath his legs through to the keeper.

SIX! SPANKED! And that is why Jaskarandeep Singh refused the single on the previous ball. On a length, around off, Jaskarandeep Singh gets deep in his crease and swings it powerfully over mid-wicket. The ball travels flat but crosses the ropes.

Around off, swung down towards long on and this is interesting. Number 9 denies the strike to a number 10!

FOUR LEG BYES! Oh, unlucky for the bowler. Another yorker, tailing back into the legs. Jaskarandeep Singh gets the front leg out of the way and squeezes it past the keeper, into the fine leg fence. Hang on, Afghanistan have reviewed this one for LBW. There wasn't much of an appeal to begin with, but the third umpire is called in. Initial replays suggest that the ball missed the inside edge and came right off the pads. Ball Tracking shows that the ball actually pitched outside the line of leg stump. It stays Not Out and it will be leg byes instead of runs.

Another one from Ahmadzai, right around the toes. Jaskarandeep Singh fails to dig it out again and gets nutmegged as well.

A yorker aimed in at the toes, Jaskarandeep Singh gives the charge but fails to dig it out and the ball goes through to the keeper.

Back to pace. Abdullah Ahmadzai returns to bowl the 19th over. 2-0-16-0 so far.

Short, around middle, Singh gets down and pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single. 2 runs and a wicket from the over and Jaskarandeep Singh goes across to congratulate Nabi for his outstanding bowling spell - 4-0-7-4! Excellent spirit of cricket. Also, these are the best bowling figures in a T20 World Cup for Nabi.

On middle and leg, holds on the surface, Jaskarandeep looks to flick, but gets a leading edge towards cover.

DROPPED! Rahmanullah Gurbaz, of all the people, has denied the President a fifer. And everyone is seeing the funny side of it, except Gurbaz. In fact, he is so furious that he has taken his helmet off and flung it onto the ground! Full, around middle and leg, Jaskarandeep Singh looked to play the slog sweep but was early into the shot. The ball came on slowly and took the top edge. Went straight up and behind the sticks. The keeper, Gurbaz charged back towards the ball, while short fine leg got across to his right for the catch as well. In the end, Gurbaz called for the catch and the short fine leg fielder backed off. However, despite getting to the ball, Gurbaz could not hang on!

Slightly short on middle, worked away from inside the crease and through backward square leg for a single.

Now, batting out becomes a serious challenge.