WATCH, AFG vs CAN | Gurbaz and Ahmadzai avoid horrific collision to hand Nabi grand send-off

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It is never easy taking a catch under lights, moreso when playing in loud subcontinent venues with a teammate competing for the same catch. Fortunately for Afghanistan, no harm was done when Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Abdullah Ahmadzai found themselves in one such predicament against Canada.

Afghanistan closed out a disappointing 2026 T20 World Cup campaign with a commanding 82-run win over Canada in their final group stage game in Chennai. Ibrahim Zadran led the batting effort with an expansive 56-ball 95, featuring seven boundaries and five maximums, with support form Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Sediquallah Atal to take the Atalans to a resounding total of 200/4. In response, their Northern American rivals folded under the pressure and managed just 118, with Mohammad Nabi playing the starring role.

The veteran 40 years of age and most likely playing his last major event for Afghanistan, by dispatching previous game's centurion Yuvraj Samra in the final over of the powerplay. Nabi added Nicholas Kirton to his bag in his next over and made it three wickets for the day with Harsh Thaker's scalp when he returned for a second spell in the 16th over. Career-best T20I figures lay in wait for the wily spinner and Nabi made major strides towards it when Dilon Heyliger's attempted heave ended up flying high off the leading edge. Gurbaz rushed towards the Kookaburra as the man donning the gloves, even though Ahmadzai was already well placed under the ball, and made a last minute desperate lunge to hold onto the white rock. Ahmadzai was startled by sudden on-rush but kept his cool to grab the catch even as Gurbaz nearly took it away while spearing towards him.

The catch ensured Nabi ended with dominant figues of 4/7 from his four overs.