Feb 19 (Reuters) - Ibrahim Zadran dedicated his player of the match award to coach Jonathan Trott as the Afghanistan opener's unbeaten 95 helped secure an 82-run win over Canada on Thursday, ending their Twenty20 World Cup with a consolation victory in Group D.
South African-born Trott, a former England international, was appointed as Afghanistan's coach in July 2022 and it was announced in November he would be leaving after this tournament.
During his tenure, Afghanistan reached their first T20 World Cup semi-final in 2024, and fell just short of reaching the semis at the 50-over World Cup in 2023.
"He has supported me, he has encouraged us all a lot. We have achieved things in ICC events. It's his last day with us, he taught me lots of things. I wish him all the best, we will all miss him a lot," Zadran said about Trott.
Afghanistan, eliminated after losing to New Zealand in their opening game and falling short against South Africa in the second super over after a tie, posted 200-4 in Chennai after being put in to bat by Canada.
Zadran hit five sixes and seven boundaries to score 95 off 56 balls, the highest individual score by an Afghan in the tournament's history, as they reached a commanding total despite Jaskaran Singh's three-wicket haul.
Spinner Mohammad Nabi then dismissed opener Yuvraj Samra (17), who scored a century against New Zealand, and in-form batter Harsh Thaker (30), leaving Canada struggling at 43-4 in the eighth over.
Tournament debutants Canada ended their campaign with four group stage losses as they were bundled out for 118, with Nabi taking four wickets for seven runs.
Afghanistan finished third in the group, with two wins in four matches, as South Africa and New Zealand progressed to the Super Eight stage.
(Reporting by Chiranjit Ojha in Bengaluru; Editing by Alison Williams)
