LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — Ibrahim Zadran made cricketing history on Wednesday, becoming the first player to record the highest individual score in ICC Champions Trophy history with his remarkable 177 runs during Afghanistan's match against England at the Gaddafi Stadium.
Zadran’s explosive knock came off just 146 balls and featured 12 boundaries and six towering sixes. This performance broke the previous record of 165 runs, held by England’s Ben Duckett, who achieved his mark just days earlier against Australia at the same venue.
Not only did Zadran’s innings surpass Duckett’s feat, but it also set the record for the highest score by any Afghan player in One-Day Internationals. This achievement eclipsed Zadran’s own previous record of 162 runs scored against Sri Lanka back in 2022.
After winning the toss, Afghanistan opted to bat first, and Zadran’s big century helped his team to post 325 runs for the loss of 7 wickets — their highest total ever registered in any ICC tournament match.
During the innings, Zadran forged an impressive partnership of 103 runs with his captain, Hashmatullah Shahidi, which was pivotal to stabilizing Afghanistan's innings after early wickets fell. Shahidi's own contribution undoubtedly supported Zadran as they built the momentum necessary to challenge the English bowlers.
"I am really happy to contribute to the team's success and make history for my country," said Zadran after the match, reflecting both excitement and pride after his record-breaking performance.
This victory was particularly significant for Afghanistan, as both teams were seeking to bounce back after losing their opening matches against Australia and South Africa, respectively. The pressure was palpable as both sides aimed to secure their place for the next stage.
Zadran's 177 runs helped not only to create history but also to fortify Afghanistan’s standing within the Champions Trophy. With their total of 325/7, they visibly asserted their competitive edge, surpassing their previous best of 291 runs, which had been against Australia during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023.
Historically, the Champions Trophy has seen some of the most esteemed players achieve great feats; Zadran now finds himself among illustrious names like Nathan Astle and Sourav Ganguly, who have previously set high benchmarks. His score of 177 ranks as the highest, marking the moment clearly as once-in-a-lifetime.
The cricketing world is now abuzz with talks about Zadran's future, considering this impressive display. His performance is being analyzed as more than just personal achievement; it symbolizes Afghanistan's growing status as formidable competitors on the world stage.
With this landmark inning, Zadran not only displayed extraordinary talent but also offered hope and inspiration to aspiring cricketers back home. Afghanistan's cricketing community, having witnessed such remarkable progression, is progressively filled with pride for their national team.
Moving forward, the expectations from Zadran will undoubtedly increase, but if his performance against England is anything to go by, he seems ready to face any challenge head-on. There is excitement surrounding how he will develop his talent and contribute to Afghanistan's potential progression through the tournament.
Now, as the tournament continues, all eyes will be on the talented Zadran and the Afghanistan team as they look to capitalize on this historic achievement.