Table of Contents
In a thrilling match at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Afghanistan’s opening batter Ibrahim Zadran scripted history by scoring a record-breaking 177 runs against England in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. His knock not only broke multiple records but also featur𝕴ed a unique celebration after reaching his century, which has captured the attention of cricket fans worldwide.
Ibrahim Zadran’s unique celebration
After reaching his 6th ODI century, Zadran celebrated with a distinctive gesture. He mimicked bowling leg-spin and then folded his hands in a gesture of gratitude towards someone in the dressing room. This celebration was not just a moment of personal triumph but also a tribute to his teammate Rashid Khan, with wh𒊎om he had a pre-match conversation that see♊med to inspire his performance.
Reason behind Zadran’s celebration
Zadran explained the reason behind his celebration, stating that he had a chat with Rashid before the match, which motivated him to perform well. “Before the game, I had a chat with Rashid. Whenever I chat with Rashid, I get a score. [That’s why] when I got to my century, I thanked Rashid,” he told the official broad♈casters during innings-break.
A comprehensive win for Afghanistan
Afghanistan’s decision to bat first proved to be a strategic masterstroke, as they managed to post a formidable total of 325/7. Zadran’s knock was the cornerstone of this effort, featuring 12 fours and six sixes. His partnership with captain Hashmatullah Shahidi (40) and later with Moℱh🌌ammad Nabi (40 off 24) helped Afghanistan recover from an early collapse at 37/3.
England’s loss was compounded by Joe Root’s valiant century, which was not enough to prevent their early exit from the tournament.
Also READ: Lahore witnesses security scare as fan runs onto pitch after Afgh🎃anistan eliminates England from Champio💖ns Trophy 2025
Zadran’s return to form
Zadran’s performance was particularly impressive given his recent return to international cricket after a seven-month layoff. He hadn’t played an ODI since March 2024 due to injury, making his comeback even more remarkable. “It’s not easy to come back to international cricket, I have come back to international cricket after 7 months but I hadn’t played ODI cricket since the last 1 year,” ♏the 23-year said, highlighting🍨 the challenges he faced in last one year.
