In the recent Champions Trophy match, England’s nervous anticipation was real as they faced Afghanistan in Lahore. The tension stemmed from controversies surrounding the Taliban’s rule in Afghanistan, which has barred Afghan women from participating in sports. This situation has drawn criticism from the international community, including the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and initially, they didn’t want to play against Afghanistan. Just because of that, the English and Australian teams haven’t played any bilateral series against them.
A spectacular match against the odds
Despite the political pressure, the match happened and turned out to be a cricket extravaganza. Afghanistan delivered a starry performance, with Ibrahim Zadran stealing the show. His incredible knock of 177 runs off 146 balls set a new tournament record, helping Afghanistan to post a competitive score of 325/7. In reply, England bundled up at 317. England is now out of the champions trophy and this victory validated Afghanistan’s rising position in international cricket, marking their second consecutive ODI victory over England, following their win in 2023 ODI World Cup.
What caused consecutive loss for England?
Due to England’s lack of bilateral series against Afghanistan, they faced consecutive defeats including in the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 and again in the Champions Trophy 2025. Unfamiliar with Afghanistan’s playing style and team dynamics, England struggled to counter their strategies, leading to unfavourable outcomes for the English side in both tournaments.
England’s captain opens up on women’s cricket
England’s captain, Jos Buttler, spoke openly about the ongoing challenges faced by Afghanistan. He stressed sport’s power and showed empathy for Afghan women who are currently unable to pursue sports. Buttler highlighted the potential of sporting events to bring hope and joy in difficult times. He said, “We’re very saddened at the plight of women and girls in Afghanistan at the moment and the struggles they are facing,” highlighting the wider meaning of sport beyond just competition.
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Shahidi’s said, focus on cricket
In contrast, Afghanistan’s captain, Hashmatullah Shahidi, took a different approach by concentrating on his team’s controllable aspects. Avoiding political discussions, Shahidi stressed that the team’s focus remains firmly on cricket. “When it comes to politics and those things which we cannot control, we are only cricket players, we can control things in the ground,” Shahidi stated, underscoring the team’s commitment to the game despite external pressures. Afghanistan’s victory in this match was more than just a win. It has given a plight of hope for the country to make a mark on the international map for something good to take pride on.
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