Afghanistan opener Ibrahim Zadran once again proved his mettle on the big stage, delivering a magnificent century against England in a crucial ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Group B clash at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on February 26. His innings not only provided much-needed stability after an early collapse but also etched his name in history as the first Afghan batter to score a hundred in the tournament’s history.
Batting first after winning the toss, Afghanistan found themselves in deep trouble early on, losing three key wickets inside the powerplay. Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, and Rahmat Shah departed cheaply, leaving the team struggling at 37/3 by the ninth over. Just when Afghanistan needed a turnaround, Zadran stepped up, forming a crucial 103-run partnership with captain Hashmatullah Shahidi to bring the innings back on track.
Zadran reached his century in the 38th over, bringing it up in style with a single off Liam Livingstone’s delivery to midwicket. He removed his helmet, raised his bat to acknowledge the roaring crowd, and folded his hands in gratitude towards the dressing room, likely dedicating the special milestone to someone.
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His knock, laced with six boundaries and three towering sixes, provided Afghanistan with a solid platform. By the 41st over, the team had progressed to 217/5, with Zadran and veteran all-rounder Mohammad Nabi at the crease.
Ibrahim Zadran – The shows topper youngster..
1st Afganistan Cricketer to score 💯 in #ChampionsTrophy .
💯 in 2023 WC vs Australia. ( 1st Afgan to score 💯 in WC)@IZadran18 #ENGvsAFG pic.twitter.com/xCQTmr1teG
— alekhaNikun (@nikun28) February 26, 2025
This wasn’t just another century—it was a record-breaking one. Zadran, who also scored a ton against Australia in the 2023 ODI World Cup, became the first Afghan player to achieve centuries in two different ICC global tournaments. His innings came at a critical juncture, as both Afghanistan and England were fighting for survival in the competition. With neither side securing a win in their previous matches, a loss here would mean elimination.
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Despite their strong ODI form leading up to the event, Afghanistan had suffered a setback against South Africa, while England was still reeling from their defeat to Australia. However, Afghanistan had stunned England before, defeating them in the 2023 World Cup, and Zadran’s knock ensured they remained in contention for another upset.
