The cricket world is all set to witness another thrilling match, as Afghanistan is all set to face England in the 8th match on February 26. The Gaddafi Stadium is all set to host the thrilling clash live from 2:30 PM (IST). The upcoming match in the ongoing Champions Trophy 2025, is set to be played between Afghanistan and England on Wednesday, February 26.
The match will be played at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Notably, this will be a must-win game for both teams to stay alive in the tournament and keep hopes intact for a possible chance of qualifying for the semi-final round. There are no more second chances for either of these sides. It essentially sets up a fascinating contest, which will see England’s batting firepower go up against Afghanistan’s spin prowess.
ENG vs AFG : Previous Performances
Neither side had a pleasant opening game as they endured heavy defeats respectively. It’s not often that 351 is scaled down in ODIs even in today’s era, more so in ICC tournaments but England saw their batting effort being chased by arch-rivals Australia with ridiculous ease.
The dew was a factor, yes, but England didn’t help their cause either with a shoddy bowling display and errant fielding. On the flat pitches of Pakistan, it’s often the bowling that can make or break games. England found out the hard way that they didn’t quite have the arsenal to pepper the Aussies.
They took way too long in finding the right lengths on a fractionally two-paced pitch and hardly varied their pace, thereby allowing South Africa’s batters to pummel the bowling. Once the Proteas got to 315, it was always going to be a steep chase for Afghanistan whose batters were then blown away by Marco Jansen and co. Batting conditions in Lahore will be a lot better, especially while chasing as dew is expected like it was in the Australia-England game.
For Afghanistan, it was a nightmarish start to the tournament as their bowlers underperformed heavily on a dry surface that suited their style of bowling.
Speaking of recent performances, Afghanistan were outplayed by South Africa in the last game with both bat and the ball. The only positive the Afghans had in the match was the gritty knock (90) from Rahmat Shah, courtesy of which the Asian side were in the hunt during the run chase at some stage.
On the other hand, England’s batting showed promise as they posted a massive 350+ total on the board against Australia. However, their bowling attack came under the scanner as they failed to defend the massive total. Opener Ben Duckett went on to enter the record books with the highest individual score (165) in the Champions Trophy history. They will want to come back stronger against the tournament debutants in the upcoming game.
As the eighth clash is on the way, both teams have faced heartbreaking defeats in their last matches. After that setback, the match became crucial for both teams as they were eyeing a strong bounce back.
ENG vs AFG : Head to Head
| Matches Played | 03 |
| Won by Afghanistan | 01 |
| Won by England | 02 |
| Tied | 00 |
| No Result | 00 |
| First-ever Fixture | 13 Mar, 2015 |
| Most-recent Fixture | 15 Oct, 2023 |
ENG vs AFG : Pitch Report
The pitch at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore is recognized for being favorable for the batters, providing good pace and bounce while offering minimal seam movement for fast bowlers. Although spinners may find some turn, the surface predominantly benefits batters.
In the initial stages, fast bowlers can generate some movement, making the new-ball phase particularly important. However, as the ball wears down, scoring runs becomes easier, setting the stage for a high-scoring match. Considering the conditions, the toss-winning captain might prefer to bowl first.
The last game played at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium saw over 700 runs scored in a game. The wicket was very flat and the batters enjoyed scoring runs in the game. The surface did not seem to change much as the game progressed. Hence this should be a good enough reason for the captains to win the toss and bowl first on this track.
England got a clear idea of Lahore’s run-laden conditions in their tournament opener, and more of the same is in prospect on a pristine new surface. The weather, however, could be decidedly cooler. There’s been rain around on the eve of the contest, and while it is not expected to be a factor during the match, the cloud cover could remain in situ … a possible boon for England’s pace-dominant attack.
If the Australia-England is anything to go by, there will be a truck load of runs once more. The recent tri-series featuring Pakistan, New Zealand and South Africa also saw big scores. Lahore has hosed nine ODIs since 2022, five of which have been won by the chasing side, with 300-plus totals being gunned down in the last two games. The average first innings total in these nine matches has been 297. Dew could be a factor and that might prompt captains to bowl after winning the toss.
ENG vs AFG : Big Picture : Politics takes back seat in high-stakes match-up between Afghanistan and England
For several febrile weeks at the turn of the year, it was impossible to ignore the political mission-creep of England versus Afghanistan in the Champions Trophy. And yet, it’s not impossible that a cricket match will be allowed to take centre stage, after all, in Lahore on Wednesday. A potentially fascinating one, too.
To deal with the frivolous keep-politics-out-of-sport top line first, this is now a must-win clash for the two winless sides in Group B. Australia’s washout against South Africa in Rawalpindi has changed little in that regard, except that it guarantees that, if either team loses in Lahore, they will now be sunk without a trace, rather than relying on snookers and net run-rates when they play the table-toppers later this week.
And, before we get bogged down in the baggage that this contest has acquired, there’s plenty of recent on-field intrigue to drill down into too. Afghanistan’s historic victory in Delhi at the 2023 World Cup has seen to that. It wasn’t the result that ended the reign of the 2019 champions – the tournament’s drawn-out itinerary meant no swift end to their humiliation – but it did unquestionably show them up as plodding, timid and past their collective sell-by date.
Eighteen months on, similar concerns endure for England, even as they embark on their white-ball Bazball reboot. On the one hand, their five-wicket loss to Australia was a game of fine margins, none more galling than Jofra Archer’s glaring miss in the deep at a pivotal juncture of the chase.
On the other hand, they put an apparently hefty 351 on the board yet still got steamrolled with almost three overs to spare. Not even Ben Duckett’s tournament-record 165 could suffice for a side whose reticence runs deep, no matter what positive messaging may have been carried across from Brendon McCullum’s Test dressing-room.
On balance, therefore, would you rather be in England’s shoes – confused as to why your best is still not enough and, in the case of their captain Jos Buttler, vaguely cognisant of the implications of another early tournament exit – or Afghanistan’s – fresh from a shoddy display against South Africa that was so far from the new standards that they set themselves that the only way, surely, is up?
Afghanistan’s 107-run loss in Karachi was studded with shoddy fielding, including a glaring missed run-out, and capped by a batting effort that was sunk inside the first 15 overs. Rahmat Shah showed the requisite mettle with a 92-ball 90, but Rashid Khan’s breezy 18 from 13 balls at No. 9 was their second-best score. After their march to the T20 World Cup semi-finals, not to mention four wins at the 2023 World Cup which secured them their Champions Trophy berth, this squad expects better of themselves these days.
Cue England, then, the perfect opponents for teams in need of a little extra incentive to raise their games. In truth, the protests about this fixture have dissipated in recent weeks, but that’s not to say there won’t be more discussion as the contest gets underway, or that the underlying issues are no longer worthy of airtime.
On the contrary, when the Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi wrote to the ECB protesting the “sex apartheid” of Afghanistan’s Taliban regime, on whose watch women’s sport has effectively been banned since 2021, she was merely articulating the same unease that many individual boards were already feeling – including both England and Australia, who had previously pledged to suspend bilateral ties while the Taliban remain in power.
That letter had been signed by a cross-party group of 160 British MPs, but the UK prime minister Keir Starmer echoed the ECB’s line, that this is a matter for the ICC as a collective body, not for individual boards. And that, broadly speaking, has been the final word on the matter for now.
Certainly it’s a far cry from the situation that Nasser Hussain’s World Cup squad found themselves in back in 2003, when – amid similar political posturing – it was left to the players themselves to debate, and ultimately carry out, a unilateral boycott of Robert Mugabe’s Zimbabwe.
Besides, as Buttler reiterated on the eve of the game, there is still a place for sport as “a source of hope and enjoyment” in tough times … much as was the case on the eve of the 2023 clash, in fact, when Afghanistan’s own aim had been to bring a bit of joy back to their country after a devastating earthquake in Herat had killed several thousand people.
The issues may be different, but the underlying truth remains the same. When there are forces beyond your control, whatever they may be, all you can do is produce your best and hope it contributes to the greater good.
The last time these two sides met, in the ODI World Cup, Afghanistan shocked the world by downing the then reigning champions by a comfortable 69-run margin in Delhi. It was a historic day for the Afghans as they used their modus operandi of ‘runs on the board’ to good effect, followed by a sensational bowling effort led by their famed spin attack.
England were crashlanding with respect to their form and they had no answers to the Afghanistan onslaught that day, started initially by Rahmanullah Gurbaz. A rematch, that too in sub-continental conditions again, could make this contest a lot closer than it otherwise would be.
ENG vs AFG : Players In the spotlight: Mark Wood and Rashid Khan
To judge by its early showings, white-ball Bazball is distinctly Route One. Stack the side with the rawest pace imaginable, and let guile and subtlety go hang. It’s a policy that you can imagine being utterly explosive on its good days, but these have been all too infrequent so far in McCullum’s tenure. Mark Wood‘s display against Australia epitomised this.
His ferocious powerplay spell featured barely a delivery below 150kph, and landed the key early wicket of Steven Smith. But by the back end of Australia’s 352-run chase, Glenn Maxwell was making room to leg with impunity, safe in the knowledge that any sort of connection would go the distance. Eight of Wood’s ten ODIs since the start of the 2023 World Cup have now come in ICC events. Nine wickets at 58.44 and an economy rate above 6.5 imply that the Aussies aren’t the only team who are ready for what he’s being primed to unleash.
England’s struggles against high-quality spin have been protracted across formats, and few spinners come more highly rated than Afghanistan’s gun leggie Rashid Khan.
Last week, he was knocked off the top of the ICC’s ODI rankings by Maheesh Theekshana, largely due to inactivity, and though he went wicketless in Afghanistan’s opening Group B loss to South Africa, he has happy memories of his most recent outing against England: figures of 3 for 37 in that famous World Cup encounter in Delhi included the winning moment itself, a slider to Wood that sealed a 69-run success, their first over England in any format.
As Adam Zampa demonstrated in Australia’s high-scoring win in Lahore on Saturday, stump-threatening wrist spinners can unlock even the flattest conditions.
ENG vs AFG : Vital Stats that matters
- England have lost five ODIs in a row, their joint-worst run since losing six in a row in their home ODI series against Australia in 2009. Auspiciously, they followed that performance with an improbable semi-final place, weeks later, in the Champions Trophy in South Africa. (Although they did then get crushed by the eventual champions, Australia, once more…)
- Rahmat Shah, who made 90 in defeat against South Africa, needs 41 runs to become the first Afghanistan batter to reach 4000 runs in ODIs.
- Rashid needs two more wickets to become the first Afghanistan bowler to reach 200 wickets in ODIs.
- Duckett, England’s centurion in defeat against Australia, needs four runs to reach 1000 in the ODI format. Phil Salt isn’t far behind, on 968 runs, while Adil Rashid and Liam Livingstone are both in the 900s too.
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz has made five ODI hundreds since 2023
- Jos Buttler’s average in ICC ODI events is only 25.82 from 31 innings, with just four fifties. The strike rate of 116 is roughly the same as his overall figures but the average is a sharp dip from his career figure of 39.2
- While Rashid Khan’s ODI career numbers are impressive with 198 wickets at an average of 20.2 and economy of 4.21, his numbers in ICC ODI events are contrasting. The leggie has only 17 wickets at an average of 50.76 and economy of 5.12
ENG vs AFG : Team News
England :
Brydon Carse had been one of the breakthrough bowlers of England’s winters, but his battered toes contributed to an untimely breakdown against Australia, as his seven overs were dispatched at a tick below ten an over. He has now been ruled out of the tournament, with Jamie Overton the likeliest like-for-like replacement – and if Lahore’s conditions remain as true as in the first match, this might even include the impact that his powerful lower-order hitting has often promised, but rarely delivered.
There will be a forced change with Brydon Carse ruled out of the tournament. Gus Atkinson, Saqib Mahmood and Jamie Overton are all in with a shout of being the replacement in the XI. However, given that Overton has a far better batting ability while also being able to bowl at a reasonable pace, he might just edge the others
England Probable Playing XI : Phil Salt, Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith(wk.), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler(wk.), Liam Livingstone, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Jofra Archer, Mark Wood.
Afghanistan :
Hashmatullah Shahidi, Afghanistan’s captain, hinted that the same XI that tripped up against South Africa would take the field in Lahore – unsurprising in light of his pointed but uncontroversial observation that “the England team struggles a bit against spinners”.
In Rashid, Mohammad Nabi and Noor Ahmad, they will have to negotiate 30 overs of the finest, and most varied, slow bowlers in subcontinental conditions, although they will at least be spared a reunion with their chief destroyer at the World Cup, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, who has been managing injury in recent months and is not currently involved in the 50-over format.
Noor Ahmad had a forgettable outing against the Proteas although the wrist spinner did pull things back a bit at the back end. Still, he had expensive figures and with nature of the tournament’s format, Afghanistan might opt to get Mujeeb-ur-Rahman into the XI at Noor’s expense.
Afghanistan Probable Playing XI : Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk.), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Noor Ahmad.
ENG vs AFG Fantasy XI : Joe Root, Harry Brook, Phil Salt, Ben Duckett, Adil Rashid, Rahmanullah Gurbaz ,Ibrahim Zadran, Rashid Khan, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Noor Ahmad, Azmatullah Omarzai
ENG vs AFG : Probable Best Players of the Match
Afghanistan
- Rahmat Shah is a huge strength in Afghanistan’s batting order. Known for his patient and technical batting style, he often showcases his batting skills often emerges as the savior. In the last match, he played a crucial knock of 90 runs in 92 balls with 9 boundaries and 1 over-boundary.
- Mohammad Nabi is a veteran all-rounder of Afghanistan’s squad. Known for his exceptional batting skill and economical style, he is the star of the team. In the last clash, he scored 8 runs and secured 2 crucial scalps while bowling. He can be a game-changer.
- Known for exciting all-round skills, Azmatullah Omarzai is a huge asset for the side. While bowling first in the last match, he secured 1 scalp and added crucial 18 runs in 27 deliveries. His dual ability can be a huge asset.
England
- In England’s top order, Ben Duckett’s presence is a huge boost for the side. Known for attacking batting style, he smashed an exceptional century and played a crucial knock of 165 runs in 143 balls with a strike rate of 115.38. He can be a game-changer for the side.
- Joe Root is England’s strongest pillar of batting over the years. In the first match of the marquee tournament, he shined with a crucial half-century and played a knock of 68 runs in 78 balls with a strike rate of 87.18. His presence will be crucial for the side.
- Known for amazing spin magic, Adil Rashid is a prime bowler of England’s squad. In the last match, he secured 1 crucial wicket while conceding 47 runs with an economy rate of 4.70. As the next match is on the horizon, he can be a match-winner for the English side.
ENG vs AFG : Match Prediction
Scenario 1
- Afghanistan win the toss and opt to bowl first
- Powerplay: 80-90
- ENG: 295-320
- Afghanistan win the match
Scenario 2
- England win the toss and opt to bowl first
- Powerplay: 50-70
- AFG: 260- 280
- England win the match
Depending on Gaddafi Stadium’s condition, the toss-winning captain might choose to bowl first. But Afghanistan has to bat first, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran will be crucial for the opening position. Their quality performance can give a huge boost to their beginning.
Adding to that, Rahmat Shah’s presence will be crucial for the middle order. Sediqullah Atal and Hashmatullah Shahidi can make an impact with their formidable batting performance. Mohammad Nabi and Gulbadin Naib’s all-round abilities can give a strong finish.
If England bats first in the next clash, Phil Salt’s attacking mindset and Ben Duckett’s powerful batting resilience will be a big boost for the opening position. In the ongoing tournament, Duckett’s form is a huge asset for the side. In the middle order, Joe Root’s brilliance, Harry Brook’s attacking display, and Jos Buttler’s strong presence will be crucial for them. Along with that Liam Livingstone’s ability will be crucial to secure a thrilling victory.
On paper, this is a contest that is tough to call. England definitely have the edge, albeit a marginal one, largely due to the placid conditions on offer in Lahore. They also have the extra pace in the bowling line-up which could rattle Afghanistan’s batting unit. It’ll be interesting to see if dew comes into play in this fixture but if it doesn’t, then the contest could be a lot closer, particularly if Afghanistan put enough runs on the board batting first.