Champions ODI Cup 2025, Match 8

AFG vs ENG

Preview 

One of the great things about the Champions ODI Cup is that teams do not have to wait long for their next fixture but cannot afford to lose a couple on the trot because if they do, they are more than likely to be knocked out. 

Afghanistan will be crossing swords with England in match 8 of the competition. Both teams have lost their respective opening encounters and will thus be keen to get a win and get their campaign up and running. While England was beaten by Australia in a high scoring game, South Africa got the better of Afghanistan to leave them tottering at the bottom of the Group B table. 

Although both suffered defeats, Afghanistan were the least competitive, apparently heading for defeat from the end of the very first over, whereas England did at least manage to post a formidable total of 350 batting first. 

With survival at stake neither side would want to be on the receiving end. Ahead of this riveting clash, let us have a look at how the two sides will fare out on Wednesday.  

Match Details

Match: AFG vs ENG, 8th Match, Group B, Champions ODI Cup, 2025

Date: Wednesday, February 26, 2025

Time: 2:30 PM

Venue: Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

Squad News

Afghanistan

Hashmatullah Shahidi hinted that the same XI that stumbled against South Africa would take the field against England on Wednesday. Given the struggle of English batters against spinners, the Afghanistan captain should look to add more spin options to his playing lineup. If he opts to go with the same XI that tripped up against the proteas, he will have Mohammad Nabi, Noor Ahmed and Rashid Khan as the spin alternatives at his disposal.       

England

Brydon Carse had been one of England’s standout bowlers in recent times, but a toe injury against Australia contributed to an untimely exit as the pace bowler has now been ruled out of the competition. Jamie Overton has been named as his replacement. 

Pitch and Weather Report

Expect batters to feast on this wicket. In the last game both England and Australia showed how good of a wicket this is for batting. Pace bowlers will however enjoy good bounce and carry from the deck. Spin bowlers will come in handy to halt the run scoring in the middle overs and chip in with wickets during the process. Team batting first should look to post a total of at least 330 on this wicket. 

No rain is predicted during the match but it will be mainly a cloudy-day night fixture. Humidity will also come into play with dew possibly to be a factor during the last 20 overs. 

AFG vs ENG Squads

AFG: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Ikram Alikhil, Nangeyalia Kharote, Naveed Zadran

ENG: Jamie Smith (wk), Jos Buttler (c), Philip Salt, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood, Jamie Overton, Rehan Ahmed, Saqib Mahmood, Tom Banton, Gus Atkinson 

AFG vs ENG Probable Playing XIs

AFG: Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (capt), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi 

ENG: Phil Salt, Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith (wk), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (capt), Liam Livingstone, Jamie Overton, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood

Match Prediction

England has a relatively more balanced and experienced squad. We are backing them to win this match. 

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