Afghanistan opener Ibrahim Zadran dedicated his Player of the Match award to outgoing head coach Jonathan Trott after guiding his side to an 82-run win over Canada in their final match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup on Thursday.
AFG vs CAN T20 WORLD CUP 2026: HIGHLIGHTS | SCORECARD
Zadran struck an unbeaten 95 off 56 balls, hitting seven fours and five sixes, as Afghanistan posted 200 for 4 after being sent in to bat. In reply, Canada were restricted to 118 for 8, with Mohammad Nabi returning figures of 4 for 7 and captain Rashid Khan claiming 2 for 19.
Speaking at the post-match presentation, Zadran acknowledged Trott’s role in his development and the team’s progress in recent years.
“I enjoyed it. Didn’t play better cricket in the first two innings, which I expect. Wanted to back my skills, really enjoyed it. Pressure was there, it’s 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 and this is what I have done.
“Wanted to dedicate this to coach Jonathan [Trott], he has supported me, he has encouraged us all a lot. We have achieved things in ICC events. It’s his last day with us, he taught me lots of things. I wish him all the best, we will all miss him a lot,” Zadran said.
JONATHAN TROTT SIGNS OFF
Trott’s tenure as Afghanistan’s head coach concluded with the win over Canada. Appointed in July 2022, the former England batter was initially handed an 18-month contract, which was extended in 2024 and later renewed to cover the 2025 season. During his stint, Afghanistan consolidated their reputation as a competitive white-ball side and recorded notable performances in ICC events.
Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan described Trott’s departure as emotional and credited him for the team’s growth.
“I think we had some wonderful times with him. Where we are now, he played a main role. It’s emotional to see him leave us, but that’s how life is. We wish him all the best and somewhere down the line we see him again.
“We were well-prepared, we played some unbelievable cricket. The game against South Africa really hurt everyone. We had to win one of those first two games and see how the tournament unfolded. We’ll take some positive things from this World Cup and look forward. Couple of areas to improve, with the batting, the middle order got a bit stuck against the big teams, and then with the bowling the death overs. That comes when you play the bigger teams in bilateral series.
“We have great spinners, good batters at the top, but that’s where we need to improve. Thank you so much to everyone who came to support us, it gave us the feeling of being back home. We have got so much love and support,” Rashid said.
Afghanistan’s innings revolved around Zadran’s measured aggression at the top of the order. After a steady start, he found rhythm through calculated strokeplay and strike rotation, before accelerating in the latter half. His 95-run third-wicket partnership with Sediqullah Atal (44 off 32) provided the platform for a strong finish and propelled Afghanistan to 200 for 4.
Canada, in response, struggled to match the required rate and lost momentum through the middle overs. The disciplined Afghan bowling unit ensured there was no route back into the contest. Mohammad Nabi’s incisive spell of 4 for 7 dismantled the middle order, while Rashid Khan’s 2 for 19 closed out any hopes of a late surge, restricting Canada to 118 for 8.
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