Afghanistan has set a formidable target of 326 runs for England in the eighth match of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, held at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. The highlight of the innings was Ibrahim Zadran’s record-breaking 177-run knock, the highest individual score in the tournament’s history.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, Afghanistan had a shaky start, losing three wickets for just 37 runs. Jofra Archer wreaked havoc early on, dismissing Rahmanullah Gurbaz (6), Siddiqullah Atal (4), and Rahmat Shah (4) to put England in a commanding position.
However, Ibrahim Zadran’s masterclass innings turned the tide for Afghanistan. Facing 146 balls, he smashed six sixes and twelve fours, leading the recovery and propelling Afghanistan to a competitive 325/7 by the end of their 50 overs.
Crucial Match for Both Teams
Both Afghanistan and England are in Group B and are desperate for a win after losing their opening matches. A victory in this game is vital for their hopes of reaching the semi-finals.
Ahead of the match, both teams underwent intense training sessions at Gaddafi Stadium, sharpening their skills in batting, bowling, and fielding.
Afghanistan’s captain, Hashmatullah Shahidi, acknowledged England’s quality but remained optimistic:
“England is one of the top cricket teams in the world. We will play with a positive mindset and hope our spinners provide the edge.”
Meanwhile, England captain Jos Buttler praised Afghanistan’s bowling attack but expressed confidence in his team’s pacers:
“Afghanistan has quality spinners, but we have top-class pacers who will perform well in the match.”
Playing XIs
Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Siddiqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi.
England: Phil Salt, Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler, Liam Livingstone, Jofra Archer, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood.
With Afghanistan posting a challenging target, all eyes will now be on England’s response in the second innings. Will they chase it down or will Afghanistan’s bowlers defend their total? Stay tuned for an exciting run chase!
