- By Vishal Pushkar
- Wed, 26 Feb 2025 05:59 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Afghanistan National Cricket Team vs England Cricket Team Match Scorecard: Afghanistan's young batting sensation, Ibrahim Zadran, etched his name in the record books by becoming the first Afghan batter to score a century in the ICC Champions Trophy. He achieved this historic feat in the Group B clash against England on February 26 at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.
Coming into the match after a low score against South Africa, where he was dismissed for 17 by Kagiso Rabada, Ibrahim made a strong comeback. Afghanistan, after opting to bat first, lost early wickets with Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, and Rahmat Shah failing to enter double digits. However, Ibrahim anchored the innings, reaching his fifty off 65 balls.
His 103-run partnership with Hashmatullah Shahidi (40) for the fourth wicket provided much-needed stability before Adil Rashid broke the stand. In the 37th over, Ibrahim nudged a single off Liam Livingstone to bring up his century off 106 balls, raising his arms in celebration as the crowd acknowledged his achievement.
Ibrahim’s century was even more special given his comeback from injury. He had been sidelined since Afghanistan’s semi-final against South Africa in the T20 World Cup, following an ankle injury that required surgery in September. He shared emotional posts on social media, showing glimpses of his rehabilitation journey, including walking on crutches during recovery.
“There’s nothing I want more than to return to the field, represent my beloved country, and deliver performances that make you all proud,” Ibrahim wrote in a social media post.
"Your love and support mean everything to me, and it’s what keeps me motivated through every challenge. I’ll be back stronger, In sha Allah,” Ibrahim added.
Ibrahim was forced to miss crucial international assignments due to an ankle injury that required surgery in September. His absence was felt during Afghanistan’s one-off Test against New Zealand in Greater Noida, followed by his unavailability for the ODI series against South Africa, Bangladesh, and Zimbabwe in Sharjah and Harare.