Afghan Opener Zadran Breaks Records of Sachin, Ganguly in Champions Trophy

In a stunning performance against England in the Champions Trophy, Afghanistan secured a remarkable victory by eight wickets, posting a massive score and shocking the cricketing world. Afghan opener Ibrahim Zadran made history by registering the highest individual score (177) in Champions Trophy history, surpassing records held by Indian cricket legends Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly.

The match, held at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, saw Afghanistan winning the toss and opting to bat first. Despite a shaky start at 37 for 3, Zadran anchored the innings with a spectacular knock. He dominated the English bowlers, finding boundaries with ease and accelerating the scoreboard. Team captain Hashmatullah Shahidi contributed 40 runs, forming a crucial 103-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Later, Zadran teamed up with Mohammad Nabi (40) to add 111 runs for the sixth wicket. His record-breaking innings of 177 runs came off 146 balls, featuring 12 fours and six sixes, cementing his place in Champions Trophy history.

Previously, England’s Ben Duckett had held the record for the highest individual score in a Champions Trophy match with 165 runs against Australia in Lahore. Other notable performances in the tournament’s history include Nathan Astle's unbeaten 145 against the USA in 2004 at The Oval, Andy Flower’s 145 against India in Colombo in 2002, Sourav Ganguly’s 141* against South Africa in Nairobi in 2000, Sachin Tendulkar’s 141 against Australia in Dhaka in 1998, and Graeme Smith’s 141 against England in Centurion in 2009. With his 177-run knock, Zadran has now surpassed all these records, setting a new benchmark for individual performances in the tournament.

This victory against England also mirrors Afghanistan’s success in the 2023 World Cup, where they defeated the same opponent in New Delhi. Afghanistan’s final league match in the tournament is set against Australia, and a win could secure them a spot in the semifinals.