By Zainab Shafiq 
In a standout performance during Afghanistan’s crucial clash against England on February 26 in Lahore, Ibrahim Zadran achieved a remarkable record. With a composed century, he not only led Afghanistan’s fightback after a rocky start but also etched his name in history.
Afghanistan won the toss and chose to bat first, but their innings began under pressure. Jofra Archer’s early brilliance rattled the Afghan top order, dismissing three batsmen by the 10th over. Afghanistan’s score stood at a precarious 39-3, with Zadran holding his ground alongside captain Hashmatullah Shahidi. Together, they steadied the ship, adding 103 runs for the fourth wicket.
Is there any record Ibrahim Zadran made against England?
Zadran, however, wasn’t finished. As he kept accumulating runs, his confidence grew. In the 37th over, he brought up his century, tapping Liam Livingstone for a single and becoming the first Afghan to score multiple centuries in ICC tournaments. This century marked Zadran’s sixth in ODIs, and his second in an ICC event. His previous century in the 2023 World Cup against Australia in Mumbai had already made waves, but this innings raised the bar even higher.
At just 23 years old, Zadran has surpassed the likes of cricket legends Jacques Kallis, Ricky Ponting, Chris Gayle, and Yuvraj Singh in the list of most ODI centuries before the age of 24. His century against England also made him the only Afghanistan player with multiple hundreds in major ICC tournaments.
Zadran’s rise is nothing short of extraordinary. His six centuries before turning 24 have placed him among the game’s elite, and his consistency promises more records in the future.
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