Darwish Excels for Afghanistan; Italy Narrowly Defeats Canada in Warm-Ups
In an exciting start to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 warm-up matches, Afghanistan and Italy showcased impressive performances. Afghanistan claimed a convincing victory over Scotland, while Italy narrowly defeated Canada in a closely fought contest.
Darwish Rasooli Shines for Afghanistan
Afghanistan triumphed over Scotland by 61 runs, thanks to an outstanding performance from Darwish Rasooli. The batsman scored 84 runs off just 46 balls, significantly contributing to Afghanistan’s total of 184 for 6 in their 20 overs. His innings included multiple boundaries, establishing a strong foundation for the team’s success.
Mohammad Nabi also made a notable contribution, adding 34 runs from 16 deliveries. In the bowling department, Azmatullah Omarzai excelled, taking 3 wickets for just 14 runs. Nabi supported well, ending with figures of 2 for 9 from his 2 overs.
Italy Narrowly Defeats Canada
Italy’s entry into the T20 World Cup scene was marked by a narrow 10-run win against Canada. Batting first, Italy managed to score 156 runs for 4. JJ Smuts led the charge with a solid 49 runs off 37 balls, while Harry Manenti contributed an unbeaten 33 runs.
Despite a strong start from Canada’s opening batsmen, Dilpreet Bajwa and Yuvraj Samra, who added 55 runs for the first wicket, they could only reach 146 runs. Bajwa finished with 37 runs, but Italy’s disciplined bowling made it difficult for Canada to chase down the target.
Match Summaries
| Match | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan vs. Scotland | BCCI Centre of Excellence, Bengaluru | Afghanistan won by 61 runs |
| USA vs. India A | Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai | India A won by 38 runs |
| Canada vs. Italy | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai | Italy won by 10 runs |
These warm-up matches highlight the competitive spirit and preparation of teams ahead of the T20 World Cup. Fans and analysts alike are eager to see how these performances translate into the tournament.
