Can Afghanistan overcome England’s pace challenge in this crucial Champions Trophy clash? With the short tournament format allowing little margin for error, both teams find themselves in a precarious situation after losing one of their three league games. They are set to face off at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, where the stakes are high the loser risks elimination and will rely on outside factors to progress to the semifinals.
The last encounter between these two teams was nothing short of historic for Afghanistan. During the ODI World Cup, they stunned the reigning champions, England, with a comfortable 69-run victory in Delhi. That match showcased Afghanistan’s strategic approach of putting runs on the board, coupled with a sensational bowling performance led by their renowned spin attack. England struggled to find answers to the Afghan onslaught, which began with a strong innings from Rahmanullah Gurbaz. With a rematch in sub-continental conditions, this contest promises to be closely contested.
Both teams had disappointing starts to the tournament, suffering heavy defeats. England faced a daunting chase of 351 runs against arch-rivals Australia, who easily scaled the target. Factors like dew affected play, but England’s bowling display and fielding errors contributed to their downfall. The flat pitches in Pakistan emphasize the importance of bowling, and England learned the hard way that they lacked the firepower to contain their rivals.
Afghanistan’s tournament opener was equally challenging, as their bowlers underperformed on a dry pitch that should have favored their style. They struggled to find the right lengths, allowing South Africa’s batters to score freely. With 315 on the board, Afghanistan faced an uphill battle, ultimately succumbing to the bowling of Marco Jansen and his teammates. However, batting conditions in Lahore are expected to be better, especially with dew predicted to impact the game, as seen in the Australia-England match.
On paper, England holds a slight edge, largely due to the favorable conditions in Lahore. Their pace-heavy bowling lineup could pose a challenge to Afghanistan’s batting unit. If dew does not come into play, the contest could be much tighter, particularly if Afghanistan sets a competitive total while batting first.
When: Afghanistan vs England, February 26, 2:00 PM local, 2:30 PM IST
Where: Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
What to expect: If the previous match between Australia and England is any indication, expect plenty of runs. Recent ODIs in Lahore have seen high scores, with five of the nine matches since 2022 won by the chasing side. The average first-innings total in these games is 297. Dew could influence captains’ decisions, potentially prompting them to bowl first after winning the toss.
Team news
Afghanistan
Noor Ahmad had a rough outing against South Africa, but he managed to pull things back toward the end. Given the tournament’s nature, Afghanistan might opt to replace him with Mujeeb-ur-Rahman.
Probable XI: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb-ur-Rahman/Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi.
England
A forced change will occur as Brydon Carse is ruled out of the tournament. Gus Atkinson, Saqib Mahmood, and Jamie Overton are in contention for his replacement, with Overton likely favored due to his batting ability alongside reasonable pace.
Probable 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.
Did you know?
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz has scored five ODI hundreds since 2023.
- Jos Buttler’s average in ICC ODI events is just 25.82 from 31 innings, with only four fifties. His strike rate of 116 is consistent with his overall figures, but his average sharply contrasts with his career figure of 39.2.
- Rashid Khan boasts impressive ODI career stats, with 198 wickets at an average of 20.2 and an economy of 4.21, but his number in ICC ODI events are much less favorable, with only 17 wickets at an average of 50.76 and an economy of 5.12.