Lahore, Pakistan, February 26 (ANI): England and Afghanistan will face off in a crucial match at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday in the eighth game of the ICC Men's Champions Trophy 2025.
Both teams are in a make-or-break situation, as the loser will be eliminated from the tournament.
Afghanistan suffered a loss in their initial match against South Africa, while England was unable to hold onto a substantial total against Australia. The Australia-South Africa match being called off due to rain effectively turns this encounter into a must-win game for both teams.
The match promises a thrilling contest between England's formidable batting team and Afghanistan's talented spin bowlers.
Recent form
Afghanistan entered the Champions Trophy in strong form, having won ODI series against Ireland, South Africa, Bangladesh, and Zimbabwe. Although they lost their first match against South Africa, they continue to be a strong and talented team.
The team lost their initial match to Australia and their recent series against India ended in a 3-0 defeat, which has had a negative impact on their confidence. Nevertheless, they have a number of experienced players from their successful campaigns in the 2019 Cricket World Cup and the 2022 T20 World Cup, who can potentially reverse their fortunes.
Players to watch for
Afghanistan: Rashid Khan
Afghanistan heavily relies on its top players, and Rashid Khan is a key factor in their success. He had an off day against South Africa, as did his team. If he regains his form in bowling, he could have a major impact against England's powerful batting lineup.
England: Jofra Archer
South Africa's fast bowlers caused problems for Afghanistan despite the slow-bowling-friendly conditions. England's quicks, including Mark Wood and Jofra Archer, were costly against Australia, giving away runs at a rate of 7.89 and 8.20 per over, respectively. They will be looking to bounce back, drawing inspiration from South Africa's success against the Afghan batsmen.
Squads
Afghanistan: Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Ikram Alikhil, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Azmatullah Omarzai's replacement, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Farid Malik, Naveed Zadran.
England: Jos Buttler (captain), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Tom Banton, Harry Brook, Rehan Ahmed, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Jamie Smith, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Saqib Mahmood, Phil Salt, Mark Wood.