Opener Ibrahim Zadran struck an unbeaten 95 to help Afghanistan to a crushing 82-run win over Canada on Thursday and cap off an otherwise disappointing T20 World Cup on a high.

Zadran hit seven fours and five sixes in his 56-ball knock to steer Afghanistan to 200-4 after being invited to bat first in Chennai.

Afghanistan bowlers led by veteran spinner Mohammad Nabi, with his T20 best figures of 4-7, kept Canada down to 118-8 for their second win in the 20-team tournament.

Afghanistan failed to reach the Super Eights stage after New Zealand secured the other qualification spot from Group D, which was topped by South Africa.

“We were well prepared for this competition, we were very close,” said Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan.

“The game against South Africa (lost in a double super over) put us on the back foot and that hurt us.”

The Afghans put up a dominant show in their last group match with Zadran leading the batting with his half-century and a 95-run third-wicket stand with Sediqullah Atal, who made 44.

It was the last match for former England batter Jonathan Trott as coach of Afghanistan after he took over the job in July 2022.

Canada were never in the chase and ended the tournament without a win in four matches.

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NORTH WAZIRISTAN: Aina Wazir, a young girl from North Waziristan’s Shewa village, has made waves on social media with her bowling skills, prompting the owner of Pakistan Super League franchise Peshawar Zalmi to select her for his upcoming women’s team.

A video of Aina appeared on the social media platform X over the past 24 hours, where she can be seen showcasing both her batting and bowling skills in a street match.

The video captured the attention of Peshawar Zalmi owner Javed Afridi, who said “talent like this deserves the right platform”.

In a post on X, he said that she would be part of the upcoming Zalmi Women League — a platform for girls to “play, inspire, and express their talents”.

“We will ensure she is provided with all necessary cricket equipment and proper facilities so she gets the opportunity she truly deserves to grow and shine and become the next Saira Jabeen,” he said.

The video had also captured the attention of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, who said on X, “It is truly heartening to witness such extraordinary raw talent emerging from our soil, a powerful reminder of the immense potential within our youth.”

He said he hoped to see Aina receive the encouragement, training, and institutional support she deserved so her talent “can be fully refined”.

“Our province is brimming with gifted daughters like Aina, whose dreams need only recognition and the right platform. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that no talent goes unnoticed and no dream remains unsupported,” he said in the post, also tagging Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Mohsin Naqvi.

The attention has resulted in Aina pledging to work hard to play for the women’s cricket team.

In a recent video message, she said, “When I grow up, I want to play for the Pakistan women’s team. I want girls from our area to play and move forward.”

She expressed special gratitude to Zalmi owner Afridi for including her in the Zalmi Women League and calling it the “biggest moment” of her life.

“If I am supported, I will work even harder,” Aina said. “I want proper academies and schools in North Waziristan.”

Aina also appealed to the government and sporting bodies to establish quality educational institutions, modern playgrounds, and cricket academies in North Waziristan to help local talent progress.

Meanwhile, according to local residents, Aina has proven that talent does not depend on living in big cities or going to expensive academies.

Speaking to Dawn, a local elder remarked, “She is our daughter. She has brought pride to Waziristan. The government should support such talented girls.”

Many are expressing hope that, with proper guidance and facilities, national and international-level players can emerge from Waziristan.

However, sports infrastructure in North Waziristan remains limited. There are few proper playgrounds and a lack of established cricket academies. Many children are forced to play on uneven grounds without access to coaching or modern equipment.

The state of education also presents challenges. In several areas, school buildings are inadequate, and sports development activities are nearly non-existent.

Local teachers believe that promoting sports at the school level would encourage positive activities and provide constructive pathways for the youth.

Experts argue that sports not only provide healthy engagement for young people but also play a vital role in promoting peace and stability. With improved sports infrastructure, Waziristan could become a nursery of talent.

Aina’s story is not just about the success and recognition of a young girl; it is also a light of hope for an entire region. Her determination and resilience demonstrate that, given the right opportunities, children from Waziristan can one day raise Pakistan’s flag on international grounds.

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T20 World Cup surprise package Zimbabwe beat Sri Lanka by six wickets in Colombo on Thursday to finish the group stage unbeaten and carry some winning momentum into the Super Eights.

Chasing 179, they finished 182-4 with three balls to spare against the co-hosts at the R. Premadasa stadium in Colombo.

Ranked 11th in the world, Zimbabwe upset former champions Australia last week.

They also beat Oman and shared the points when their game against Ireland was washed out on Tuesday.

Zimbabwe needed a tricky 65 off 36 balls when captain Sikandar Raza blasted 20 off an over from leg-spinner Dushan Hemantha, including two sixes and a four, to swing the match.

Raza and Brian Bennett added 69 off 40 deliveries for the third wicket and though Raza fell in the 19th over for 45, Zimbabwe eased to their target.

Opener Bennett batted through the innings to be 63 not out.

Needing eight off the final over, Tony Munyonga clubbed Maheesh Theekshana’s first ball for six to calm any Zimbabwe nerves before Bennett hit the winning boundary.

“We have trained for every situation. Then we have the right personnel to send in at the right time,” said Raza, who was named player of the match.

“We have got all those roles clear and that is why you see the confidence in the changing room.”

It was Zimbabwe’s second-highest successful run chase in T20 internationals.

After opting to bat first, Pathum Nissanka held Sri Lanka’s innings together again.

Nissanka had become the first centurion of the tournament against Australia on Monday and he followed that up with a solid 62 off 47 balls.

It was his seventh fifty in T20 World Cups, equalling Mahela Jayawardene for the most by a Sri Lankan.

Wicketkeeper batter Kusal Mendis said Sri Lanka now targets a place in the semi-finals.

“It’s been a good campaign for us. We have three big games coming up and we have played these three teams frequently in the last 12 months — going to be an interesting week,” said Mendis.

“I have never played a semi-final of an ICC event and am looking forward to doing well and booking a semi-final berth.”

Sri Lanka open their Super Eights campaign against England in Kandy on Sunday, while Zimbabwe will face the West Indies in Mumbai on Monday.

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