Both England and Afghanistan faced big losses in their opening matches of the ICC Champions Trophy. If they don’t win their upcoming game, they might be out of the tournament. The eighth match of the tournament will see England take on Afghanistan at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on February 25.
England is already dealing with a setback as Brydon Carse is out due to injury. Both teams are under pressure to perform in this crucial match.
Squads:
Afghanistan:
Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Ikram Alikhil, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharoti, 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.
Expected Lineups:
Afghanistan:
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wicketkeeper), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Rahmat Shah, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi.
England:
Phil Salt, Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (captain), Liam Livingstone, Jamie Overton, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood.
How to Watch:
In India, the match will be broadcast live on Star Sports Network and streamed on JioCinema.
Match Timings:
The game starts at 2:30 PM IST.
Fantasy Picks:
Safe Choices: Jos Buttler (ENG), Adil Rashid (ENG), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (AFG).
Risky Picks: Ben Duckett (ENG), Rashid Khan (AFG), Jofra Archer (ENG).
Head-to-Head Record:
Matches Played: 3 | England Wins: 2 | Afghanistan Wins: 1 | No Result: 0.
Match Prediction:
This game will be a battle between Afghanistan’s strong bowling, especially their spinners, and England’s powerful batting lineup. England has the upper hand due to their batting strength and the favorable conditions in Lahore.
Top Performers:
Best Batter: Ben Duckett (ENG) has been in excellent form since 2023, scoring over 800 ODI runs with an average of 54.56 and a strike rate of 109.1. He even hit a century in his last game against Australia.
Best Bowler: Adil Rashid (ENG) has taken 44 wickets in 28 innings since 2023, making him the standout bowler from both teams.
Pitch Report:
The Gaddafi Stadium pitch is ideal for batting. The last game here saw over 700 runs, and another high-scoring match is expected.
Weather Update:
The weather in Lahore will be pleasant, with temperatures between 16°C and 25°C. It will be cloudy, but there’s no rain forecast, so the match should proceed without interruptions.
This match is a must-win for both teams, and fans can expect an exciting contest between England’s batting firepower and Afghanistan’s spin attack.