Afghanistan’s Ibrahim Zadran delivered a sensational innings against England, rewriting the record books with the highest individual score in ICC Champions Trophy history. His stunning knock of 177 off 146 balls came in a high stakes encounter at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, keeping Afghanistan’s hopes alive in the tournament.
Zadran’s heroics in a must win clash
Afghanistan entered the match under pressure, having lost their opening game. A defeat would mean an early exit from their debut Champions Trophy campaign. After a shaky start, losing three early wickets within the first 10 overs, including key batters Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, and Rahmat Shah, Zadran anchored the innings with resilience.
He stitched crucial partnerships with captain Hashmatullah Shahidi, Azmatullah Omarzai, and later, an aggressive push with veteran all-rounder Mohammad Nabi. His knock not only rescued Afghanistan from a precarious situation but also set up a formidable total against England.
Breaking records on the big stage
Zadran’s innings shattered multiple records. His 177 runs effort surpassed England’s Ben Duckett, who had earlier scored 165 against Australia in the same tournament. This made Zadran the new record holder for the highest individual score in ICC Champions Trophy history.
Top individual scores in ICC champions trophy history
| Rank | Player | Team | Score | Opponent | Venue | Date |
| 1 | Ibrahim Zadran | Afghanistan | 177 | England | Lahore | 26-Feb-25 |
| 2 | Ben Duckett | England | 165 | Australia | Lahore | 22-Feb-25 |
| 3 | Nathan Astle | New Zealand | 145* | USA | The Oval | 10-Sep-04 |
| 4 | Andy Flower | Zimbabwe | 145 | India | Colombo | 14-Sep-02 |
| 5 | Sourav Ganguly | India | 141 | South Africa | Nairobi | 12-Oct-00 |
Afghanistan’s highest individual score in ODIs
Zadran’s innings also rewrote Afghanistan’s cricketing records, becoming the highest individual score by any Afghan batter in ODI history. His previous best was 162 against Sri Lanka in 2022. His 177 now stands as the highest by an Afghan batter in any ICC white-ball event.
Top individual scores by Afghan’s batters in ODIs
| Rank | Player | Opponent | Score | Venue | Date |
| 1 | Ibrahim Zadran | England | 177 | Lahore | 26-Feb-25 |
| 2 | Ibrahim Zadran | Sri Lanka | 162 | Pallekele | 30-Nov-22 |
| 3 | Rahmanullah Gurbaz | Pakistan | 151 | Hambantota | 24-Aug-23 |
| 4 | Azmatullah Omarzai | Sri Lanka | 149* | Pallekele | 09-Feb-24 |
| 5 | Rahmanullah Gurbaz | Bangladesh | 145 | Chattogram | 08-Jul-23 |
Zadran’s exceptional innings has placed Afghanistan in a commanding position, but the job is far from over. The onus is now on their bowling attack to defend the total and secure a vital victory to keep their semifinal hopes alive. With Afghanistan’s growing presence in international cricket, this performance is yet another statement that they are here to challenge the best.
