Afghanistan vs England Match Prediction in ICC Champions Trophy 2025

It’s Match Day 8 of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. As action shifts to Lahore, there will be a virtual knockout in Group B. The loser of the Afghanistan vs England will exit the tournament, joining Pakistan and Bangladesh. The winner won’t seal a semifinal spot. But they will remain in the hunt after the Australia vs South Africa match was washed out in Rawalpindi.

England and Afghanistan are at the bottom of Group B with no wins. But it’s Afghanistan who are in trouble. They have a Net Run Rate of -2.140. They are now in a situation where they must win their remaining two matches against England and Australia by a good margin. For England, the situation is also similar. They must win against Afghanistan and South Africa to keep hopes alive of a semifinal spot.

Match Details

• Match: Afghanistan vs England, Match 8, ICC Champions Trophy 2025
• Date & Time: Wednesday, February 26, 2025, 2:30 PM IST
• Venue: Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
• Broadcast and Streaming: Star Sports Network, JioHotstar (app & website)

Gaddafi Stadium Pitch Report

The Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore is renowned for its bowler-friendly pitch, especially favouring spin bowlers. With an average first innings score hovering around 255 runs, and second innings scores usually dip to about 220 runs.

However, it is a different pitch now. The opening match at the venue offered over 700 runs as Australia chased down a record 352-run target against England. If the pitch is similar to the one used for the ENG vs AUS match, there will be a lot of runs on offer.

Historically, the highest total recorded at this venue is a staggering 375/3, achieved by Pakistan against Zimbabwe, illustrating that high-scoring matches are indeed possible.

AFG vs ENG Head-to-Head Records in ODIs

When examining the head-to-head records, Afghanistan and England have faced off in three ODIs, all during World Cup events. The current standing gives England a slight edge. However, Afghanistan’s recent victory against England in the 2023 ODI World Cup, where they triumphed by 69 runs, means they can’t be underestimated.

Stats	Matches	AFG Won	ENG Won	Draw/Tied/NR
Overall	3	1	2	0
In ICC Tournaments	3	1	2	0

AFG vs ENG Predicted Playing XI

Afghanistan

Bolstered by a promising lineup that heavily relies on their formidable spin attack and aggressive batting core, Afghanistan will look to make early inroads against England.

• Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK)
• Ibrahim Zadran
• Sediqullah Atal
• Rahmat Shah
• Hashmatullah Shahidi (C)
• Azmatullah Omarzai
• Gulbadin Naib
• Mohammad Nabi
• Rashid Khan
• Mujeeb-ur-Rahman
• Fazalhaq Farooqui

England

England arrives with a well-rounded squad, famous for its batting depth and versatile bowling attack, aiming for a cohesive performance that demonstrates their experience.

• Phil Salt
• Ben Duckett
• Jamie Smith (WK)
• Joe Root
• Harry Brook
• Jos Buttler (WK)
• Liam Livingstone
• Jamie Overton
• Adil Rashid
• Jofra Archer
• Mark Wood

AFG vs ENG Probable Best Performers

• Afghanistan: Fans can expect Rashid Khan to shine with his exceptional spin bowling, which could be pivotal on the Gaddafi pitch. Additionally, Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s explosive batting at the top will be crucial in setting a competitive total.
• England: For England, the focus will be on Ben Duckett and Jos Buttler. Duckett’s form has been commendable, and his ability to anchor the innings, combined with Buttler’s explosive batting in the middle order, will play a significant role in determining the match’s outcome.

AFG vs ENG Match Prediction

While England is touted as the stronger side given their extensive experience and depth in batting, Afghanistan should not be underestimated. The unpredictability stemming from Afghanistan’s spin-friendly strategy and their capability to challenge bigger teams presents a genuine possibility for an upset. However, factoring in England’s overall strength, England is favoured to win this contest due to their superior batting arsenal and balanced bowling attack.

All eyes will be on the Gaddafi Stadium to witness if Afghanistan can replicate their past heroics or if England will assert their dominance on the global stage once again.