AFG vs PAK: Ibrahim Zadran dedicates MoTM award to Afghans deported by Pakistan

Ibrahim Zadran won man of the match award for his 87 in Afghanistan's win over Pakistan in ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.

In a thrilling match in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, Afghanistan secured a historic victory against their long-standing rivals, Pakistan, ultimately triumphing by 8 wickets. This momentous win marked Afghanistan's very first taste of success over Pakistan after 8 encounters in ODIs. Afghanistan's resilience and unwavering determination in the face of high-pressure situations proved to be the key to their triumph.

The defining moment that turned this historic victory in Afghanistan's favour was the extraordinary partnership between Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz. Together, they built a formidable partnership, contributing significantly to a total of 130 runs. This partnership played a pivotal role in Afghanistan's triumphant chase, allowing them to successfully reach the target of 283 runs that Pakistan had set.

Among the standout performances was Ibrahim Zadran's exceptional innings, where he amassed an impressive 87 runs, including an impressive 10 fours. His ability to face and conquer challenging deliveries from formidable bowlers like Shaheen Afridi, Hasan Ali, and Haris Rauf, as well as negotiate the spin of Shadab and Usama, showcased his remarkable skill and composure under pressure.

In a significant achievement, Ibrahim Zadran secured his place in the record books as the fastest Afghanistan batsman to reach 1000 ODI runs. In surpassing his opening partner Gurbaz, who had previously held this record, Zadran needed only three more runs to achieve this milestone. He managed to accomplish this feat in just 24 innings, setting a new standard. In comparison, Gurbaz took 27 innings to reach the 1000-run mark, making Zadran the new record-holder and a symbol of Afghanistan's rising cricketing prowess.

Ibrahim Zadran dedicates his player of the match award to Afghanistan people sent back from Pakistan

Ibrahim Zadran received the Player of the Match award for scoring 87 in Afghanistan's historic win against Pakistan. During the post-match interview, after receiving the award, the opening batsman dedicated his award to the Afghan refugees who had been sent back from Pakistan. He expressed, "I would like to dedicate this Player of the Match award to the people who were sent back from Pakistan to Afghanistan." He concluded saying, "that I am feeling great for myself and my country."