A crucial Group B showdown awaits as Afghanistan clashes with England at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday (February 26) in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Both teams, reeling from recent setbacks, face immense pressure to secure a victory and keep their semi-final hopes alive.
Afghanistan’s strength lies in their formidable spin attack, led by Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi, poised to challenge England’s batting. However, their batting fragility was exposed in a heavy loss to South Africa. England, boasting a powerful batting lineup anchored by Jos Buttler and Joe Root, must address their inconsistent bowling, evident in their failure to defend a high score against Australia.
Key players like Rahmanullah Gurbaz for Afghanistan and Phil Salt for England will be pivotal. This match promises a tense battle, with both teams desperate for a win to avoid early elimination.
Gaddafi Stadium Pitch Report:
The pitch at Gaddafi Stadium is anticipated to be batting-friendly, posing a tough challenge for bowlers. Recent matches at this venue have shown that run-scoring has been relatively effortless, indicating the possibility of another high-scoring game.
Earlier in the tournament, the stadium hosted a riveting clash between Australia and England, where batters dominated. Australia successfully chased down a record total of 352, securing victory with five wickets in hand and 15 balls to spare.
Match Details: ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Match 8
- Date and Time: February 26, 02:30 pm (IST)/ 09:00 am (GMT)/ 02:00 pm (Local)
- Venue: Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
AFG vs ENG Dream11 Prediction Picks:
- Wicketkeepers: Jos Buttler, Phil Salt, Rahmanullah Gurbaz
- Batters: Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Ben Duckett, Harry Brook
- All-rounders: Joe Root, Liam Livingstone
- Bowlers: Adil Rashid, Rashid Khan
AFG vs ENG Dream11 Prediction Captain and Vice-Captain:
- Choice 1: Phil Salt (c), Adil Rashid (vc)
- Choice 2: Jos Buttler (c), Hashmatullah Shahidi (vc)
Also READ: England pacer Brydon Carse ruled out of the Champions Trophy 2025; replacement announced
AFG vs ENG Dream11 Prediction Backups:
Ibrahim Zadran, Noor Ahmad, Jofra Archer, Mark Wood
AFG vs ENG Dream11 Team for today’s match (February 26, 09:00 am GMT):
Squads:
Afghanistan: Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), 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 (c), 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