The Group B clash of the ongoing Champions Trophy 2025 will see Afghanistan (AFG) take on England (ENG) on Wednesday, February 26, at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium. This encounter is crucial for both sides, as a win is essential to remain in contention for a semi-final spot.
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Afghanistan vs England: Preview
For several intense weeks at the start of the year, the political undertones surrounding the England vs. Afghanistan clash in the Champions Trophy were hard to ignore. Yet, come Wednesday in Lahore, cricket might finally take center stage in what promises to be an intriguing encounter.
Setting aside the usual “keep politics out of sport” narrative, this Group B fixture is a must-win for both teams, each still searching for their first victory. Australia’s washed-out game against South Africa in Rawalpindi has done little to alter the stakes—defeat in Lahore will effectively end the losing side’s semi-final hopes, leaving no room for reliance on net run rates or mathematical miracles later in the tournament.
On the field, there’s plenty to dissect. Afghanistan’s historic win over England in Delhi during the 2023 World Cup still lingers. Though it didn’t immediately end the defending champions’ campaign, it exposed England as sluggish and past their prime. Fast forward 18 months, and despite their white-ball “Bazball” reboot, concerns persist. Their recent five-wicket loss to Australia was a tale of fine margins—highlighted by Jofra Archer’s costly drop during a crucial phase—yet more troubling was their inability to defend a substantial 351-run total, conceding defeat with nearly three overs remaining. Even Ben Duckett’s tournament-best 165 couldn’t mask the team’s underlying hesitance, a trait seemingly resistant to the aggressive ethos Brendon McCullum has instilled in the Test arena.
So, which position would you prefer? England’s—grappling with the frustration of their best efforts still falling short, with captain Jos Buttler faintly aware of the consequences of another early tournament exit—or Afghanistan’s—reeling from a dismal performance against South Africa, yet optimistic that the only direction now is upward?
Afghanistan’s 107-run defeat in Karachi was marred by poor fielding, highlighted by a glaring missed run-out, and a batting collapse inside the first 15 overs. While Rahmat Shah displayed resilience with a 92-ball 90, the next-best contribution came from Rashid Khan’s brisk 18 off 13 balls at No. 9. Given their journey to the T20 World Cup semi-finals and four victories at the 2023 World Cup, which earned them this Champions Trophy berth, the squad now holds itself to higher standards.
Enter England—arguably the ideal opponent for teams seeking that extra motivation to lift their game.
While protests surrounding this fixture have quieted in recent weeks, underlying tensions remain. When Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi addressed the ECB, condemning the “sex apartheid” under Afghanistan’s Taliban regime—which has effectively banned women’s sports since 2021—she voiced concerns already shared by several cricket boards, including England and Australia, both of which had pledged to halt bilateral ties under Taliban rule.
Her letter, backed by 160 cross-party British MPs, drew attention to these issues, though UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer reinforced the ECB’s stance that such matters fall under the ICC’s jurisdiction, not individual boards. This collective approach has, for now, settled the debate—far removed from the situation faced by Nasser Hussain’s 2003 World Cup squad, who, amid political turmoil, ultimately decided to boycott their fixture against Robert Mugabe’s Zimbabwe.
Still, as Buttler reiterated before the game, sport retains its role as “a source of hope and enjoyment” in challenging times—mirroring the sentiment ahead of the 2023 World Cup clash, when Afghanistan aimed to uplift their nation following the devastating Herat earthquake. The circumstances may differ, but the fundamental truth remains: when external forces are beyond your control, the best you can do is give your all and hope it serves a greater purpose.
Afghanistan vs England: Head-to-head
- Matches Played: 3
- Won by Afghanistan: 1
- Won by England: 2
- Tied: 0
- No Result: 0
- First-ever Fixture: 13 March 2015
- Most-recent Fixture: 15 October 2023
Afghanistan vs England: Pitch Report and Weather Conditions
England got a firsthand experience of Lahore’s batting-friendly conditions in their tournament opener, and a similar run-fest is anticipated on a fresh pitch. While the weather is expected to be cooler, rain on the eve of the match is unlikely to interfere with play, though lingering cloud cover could benefit England’s pace-heavy bowling attack.
Recent fixtures, including the Australia-England clash and the Pakistan-New Zealand-South Africa tri-series, have consistently yielded high scores. Lahore has hosted nine ODIs since 2022, with chasing teams winning five of them. Notably, 300-plus targets were successfully chased in the last two matches, and the average first-innings total during this period stands at 297. Dew might also come into play, potentially influencing captains to opt for bowling after winning the toss.
Afghanistan vs England: Recent Form
England: LLLLL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Afghanistan: LWWWL
Afghanistan vs England: Team News and Predicted XI
Afghanistan – Team News
Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi suggested that the team could retain the same playing XI that faced South Africa, especially given his remark that “the England team struggles a bit against spinners.” England will need to counter 30 overs of top-quality spin from Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, and Noor Ahmad—each bringing distinct styles suited to subcontinental conditions.
However, they won’t have to face Mujeeb Ur Rahman, their main tormentor during the World Cup, as he remains sidelined due to injury and is currently out of the 50-over setup. Noor Ahmad, despite a poor outing against South Africa, managed to regain some control late in his spell. Given the tournament’s format, Afghanistan could consider replacing him with Mujeeb if fit.
Afghanistan – Predicted XI
- Ibrahim Zadran
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk)
- Sediqullah Atal
- Rahmat Shah
- Hashmatullah Shahidi (capt)
- Azmatullah Omarzai
- Mohammad Nabi
- Gulbadin Naib
- Rashid Khan
- Noor Ahmad
- Fazalhaq Farooqi
England – Team News
Brydon Carse, one of England’s standout bowlers during the winter, has been ruled out of the tournament after a tough outing against Australia, where his seven overs went for just under ten runs per over. His absence forces England to make a change in the playing XI.
Jamie Overton is the likeliest like-for-like replacement, not only for his ability to bowl at a decent pace but also for his potential to contribute with the bat—an asset England might value if Lahore’s conditions remain batting-friendly. While Gus Atkinson and Saqib Mahmood are also options, Overton’s superior lower-order hitting and versatility could give him the nod.
Afghanistan vs England: Players To Watch Out For
Rashid Khan (Afghanistan)
England’s long-standing issues against quality spin remain evident across formats, and few pose a bigger challenge than Afghanistan’s premier leg-spinner, Rashid Khan. Despite recently losing the top spot in the ICC ODI rankings to Maheesh Theekshana due to limited playtime, Rashid remains a potent threat.
Though he went wicketless in Afghanistan’s opening Group B defeat to South Africa, he will take confidence from his memorable performance against England at the World Cup in Delhi, where his 3 for 37 included the decisive dismissal of Mark Wood, sealing a historic 69-run victory—Afghanistan’s first against England in any format. As Adam Zampa showed during Australia’s high-scoring win in Lahore, attacking wrist-spinners who target the stumps can still thrive, even on batter-friendly pitches.
Mark Wood (England)
Early signs suggest that England’s white-ball “Bazball” approach is straightforward: prioritize sheer pace over finesse and craft. While this tactic can produce fireworks on its day, those moments have been relatively rare under Brendon McCullum’s leadership. Mark Wood’s performance against Australia perfectly illustrated this strategy.
His blistering new-ball spell, consistently exceeding 150 kph, secured the crucial dismissal of Steven Smith. However, by the closing stages of Australia’s 352-run chase, Glenn Maxwell was confidently creating room to swing freely, knowing any decent connection would clear the ropes. Wood has played ten ODIs since the 2023 World Cup began—eight in ICC tournaments—taking nine wickets at an average of 58.44 and conceding over 6.5 runs per over, indicating that Australia aren’t the only side anticipating his pace barrage.
Afghanistan vs England: Prediction
Scenario 1
- Toss: Afghanistan win the toss and opt to bowl first
- Powerplay Score: 80-90
- England Total: 295-320
- Match Result: Afghanistan win the match
Scenario 2
- Toss: England win the toss and opt to bowl first
- Powerplay Score: 50-70
- Afghanistan Total: 260- 280
- Match Result: England win the match
When and Where To Watch Afghanistan vs England LIVE? Broadcast and Streaming Details
The ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 Group B encounter between Afghanistan and England is scheduled for Wednesday, February 26, at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore in Pakistan. The match will commence at 2:30 PM IST, with the toss set for 2:00 PM. Fans can watch the live broadcast on the Star Sports Network, while live streaming will be available on the JioHotstar app and website.
Read More: Champions Trophy 2025: Australia vs South Africa Abandoned After Persistent Rawalpindi Rain
FAQs
When and where is the England vs Afghanistan match taking place?
The England vs Afghanistan clash will be held in Lahore, where high-scoring conditions and potential dew may influence the match outcome.
What is the head-to-head record between England and Afghanistan in ODIs?
England leads the head-to-head with 2 wins out of 3 ODIs, while Afghanistan secured their sole victory in the 2023 World Cup encounter.
How has England performed against spin bowling recently?
England has consistently struggled against quality spin, with Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan, who took 3 for 37 against them in the World Cup, posing a significant threat.
Will Afghanistan make changes to their playing XI against England?
Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi hinted at fielding the same XI despite Noor Ahmad’s costly outing, though Mujeeb Ur Rahman could be considered depending on conditions.
Who will replace Brydon Carse in England’s playing XI?
With Brydon Carse ruled out, Jamie Overton is the frontrunner to replace him, offering both pace and valuable lower-order batting strength.
