AFG Vs ENG: Afghanistan And England’s Playing XI For The Champions Trophy 2025

As the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 progresses, Afghanistan and England are set to face off in a do-or-die encounter at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on February 26, 2025. Both teams come into this clash after suffering disappointing defeats in their opening matches, making this contest crucial in determining their fate in Group B.

A victory is essential for both sides to keep their semi-final hopes alive, and the pressure will be on their key players to step up and deliver when it matters most.

Can Afghanistan bounce back from their crushing defeat against South Africa and claim a historic win? Or will England recover from their heartbreaking loss to Australia and get their campaign back on track? Let’s dive deep into the build-up, team analysis, and possible match strategies.

Afghanistan and England: A Disappointing Start to Their Champions Trophy Campaign

Afghanistan’s First Match: A Tough Reality Check

For Afghanistan, this tournament is special as they are making their Champions Trophy debut. However, their first match against South Africa was far from ideal.

The Proteas dominated the contest, handing Afghanistan a massive 107-run defeat.
The bowling unit, despite boasting talents like Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, and Gulbadin Naib, failed to put South Africa under pressure.
The batting lineup struggled against South Africa’s disciplined attack, except for Rahmat Shah, who played a valiant knock of 90 runs.
Lack of support from other batters proved to be their downfall, as Afghanistan failed to chase down a challenging total.

As they prepare to take on England, Afghanistan needs an all-round improvement, especially in their batting and fielding departments.

England’s First Match: A Painful Loss Despite a Mammoth Total

Unlike Afghanistan, England played an excellent game but still ended up on the losing side.

Against arch-rivals Australia, the Jos Buttler-led team put up a gigantic 351/8 on the board, thanks to Ben Duckett’s sensational century.
Given Australia’s recent struggles and a weakened squad, England must have anticipated an easy victory.
However, Australia defied the odds, successfully chasing down the total in an unbelievable run-fest.
England’s middle-order failures (Buttler, Brook, and Livingstone) hurt them, while their bowlers struggled to defend the target.

Now, England must regroup quickly to avoid back-to-back defeats, which could put them on the verge of an early exit.

Afghanistan’s Predicted XI vs England

Despite their disappointing performance against South Africa, Afghanistan is likely to stick with their current batting order, as it still shows promise.

Openers:

Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Aggressive and explosive, needs to provide a strong start)
Ibrahim Zadran (Has the ability to stabilize the innings)

Top Order:

Sediqullah Atal (Likely to bat at No. 3, needs to step up)
Rahmat Shah (Afghanistan’s most reliable batter, coming off a brilliant 90 in the last game)

Middle Order & All-rounders:

Hashmatullah Shahidi (C) (Captain needs to lead from the front with a responsible knock)
Azmatullah Omarzai (A promising young all-rounder)
Gulbadin Naib (Offers experience and all-round capabilities)
Mohammad Nabi (The veteran all-rounder’s performance will be crucial)
Rashid Khan (Afghanistan’s biggest match-winner with both bat and ball)

Bowlers:

Fazalhaq Farooqi (Spearheading the pace attack)
Noor Ahmad (Talented young spinner who could trouble England’s batters)

Key Areas to Improve:

Afghanistan must bat more sensibly and build partnerships.
Bowlers, especially spinners like Rashid Khan, need to dominate the middle overs.
Fielding lapses must be minimized to avoid leaking unnecessary runs.

England’s Predicted XI vs Afghanistan

England, despite their loss, is expected to retain most of their playing XI, with only one forced change due to Brydon Carse’s injury.

Openers:

Ben Duckett (In red-hot form after smashing a century vs Australia)
Phil Salt (A dangerous T20-style batter, capable of quick starts)

Top Order:

Jamie Smith (Batted at No. 3 in the last game, might retain his spot)
Joe Root (The experienced campaigner, could also bat at No. 3 if needed)

Middle Order:

Harry Brook (Needs to bounce back after a failure in the first game)
Jos Buttler (C & WK) (Captain and wicketkeeper, must lead from the front)
Liam Livingstone (Key finisher, but needs to find form)

Bowlers:

Jofra Archer (England’s pace spearhead, expected to shine)
Mark Wood (Extreme pace will be effective against Afghanistan)
Adil Rashid (England’s go-to leg-spinner)
Saqib Mahmood (Likely to replace Brydon Carse)

Key Areas to Improve:

England’s middle-order must fire, especially Brook, Buttler, and Livingstone.
The bowlers need to be more disciplined and avoid leaking runs like they did against Australia.
Fielding must be sharp, as Afghanistan has batters capable of quick scoring.

Match Strategies and Key Battles to Watch Out For

1. Rashid Khan vs England’s Batters

England’s middle order struggled in the last game. If Rashid Khan gets them early, it could be game-changing.

2. Jofra Archer’s Pace vs Afghanistan’s Top Order

Archer’s sheer pace could trouble Afghanistan’s inexperienced top order.

3. Rahmat Shah vs England’s Bowlers

If Afghanistan is to compete, Rahmat Shah must anchor the innings again.

4. Ben Duckett vs Afghanistan’s Spin Attack

Duckett played beautifully against Australia. But can he handle Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad?

5. Afghanistan’s Lower Middle Order vs England’s Death Bowlers

If Afghanistan’s middle and lower order contributes, they could post a challenging total.

Gaddafi Stadium Pitch Report & Weather Conditions

The Lahore pitch is batting-friendly, but spinners will play a key role.
Teams batting first should aim for 280+ to be competitive.
The weather is expected to be clear, so rain is unlikely to interrupt play.

Predictions: Who Holds the Edge?

England are the favorites, given their experience and squad depth. However, Afghanistan can spring a surprise if:

Rahmat Shah and Gurbaz bat well.
Rashid Khan spins his magic in the middle overs.
Their bowlers keep England’s batters in check.

Match Prediction: England (65%) vs Afghanistan (35%) – but expect a close contest!

Final Thoughts: A Battle of Survival!

With both teams desperate for a win, this match promises to be a thrilling contest. England will be looking to assert dominance, while Afghanistan will be eager to prove themselves on the big stage.

Will England bounce back, or can Afghanistan create history? Cricket fans are in for a spectacular showdown in Lahore
!
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