After knocking England out of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, giant slayers Afghanistan will face off against World Champion Australia in a do-or-die match. A win will guarantee them a spot in the semifinals while knocking Australia out. Hashmatullah Shahidi-led Afghans will once again get the batting-friendly pitch of Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore where they shocked England. While the memories of Glenn Maxwell are still fresh, Afghanistan will aim to avenge their World Cup loss against Australia.
As for Australia, despite injuries and the absence of their first-choice pace battery, they eased past England. While the match against South Africa was washed out, they know that Afghanistan are now capable of beating top teams. Hence, Steve Smith won’t take them lightly.
Match Details
- Match: Afghanistan vs Australia, Match 10, ICC Champions Trophy 2025
- Date & Time: Friday, February 28, 2025, at 2:30 PM IST
- Venue: Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
- Live Broadcast and Streaming Details: Star Sports Network and JioHotstar.
Gaddafi Stadium Pitch Report
The Gaddafi Stadium is renowned for its batting-friendly conditions, offering an even surface with good bounce and minimal assistance for bowlers. During the ongoing Champions Trophy, the pitch has produced high-scoring encounters, with teams consistently surpassing the 300-run mark, suggesting that run-scoring will be paramount in this contest. Batters who can settle in early will enjoy the benefits, making for an entertaining game.
AFG vs AUS Head-to-Head Records in ODIs
Afghanistan have faced Australia in four ODIs, and the Australian team has emerged victorious each time. This trend underscores Australia’s dominance in this matchup, but Afghanistan’s recent improvements in the format suggest they are more than capable of putting up a fight.
| Category | Afghanistan | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Matches Played | 4 | 4 |
| Matches Won | 0 | 4 |
| Matches Tied | 0 | 0 |
| Matches with No Result | 0 | 0 |
| Highest Score | 325 | 417 |
| Lowest Score | 142 | 209 |
| Biggest Win Margin (by Runs) | N/A | 275 |
| Last Match Result (2023 WC) | Lost | Won |
Recent Results
- August 25, 2012 (Sharjah): Australia won by 66 runs.
- March 4, 2015 (Perth): Australia won by 275 runs.
- June 1, 2019 (Bristol): Australia won by 7 wickets.
- November 7, 2023 (Mumbai): Australia won by 3 wickets.
AFG vs AUS Predicted Playing 11
Afghanistan’s Line-up
With a well-rounded bowling unit and consistent batting unit, Afghanistan seem to have all bases covered. That Ibrahim Zadran smashed 177 against England tells you Afghanistan batters can score big. Azmatullah Omarzai has played the key role of a seam-bowling all-rounder. He has got wickets and also got the runs. While Rashid Khan’s poor run of form could be worrying, Noor Ahmad has plugged that gap well.
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wicket-keeper)
- Ibrahim Zadran
- Sediqullah Atal
- Rahmat Shah
- Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain)
- Azmatullah Omarzai
- Mohammad Nabi
- Gulbadin Naib
- Rashid Khan
- Noor Ahmad
- Fazalhaq Farooqi
Australia’s Line-up
Even though Australia came into the tournament as underdogs riddled with absence and injuries, they have shown no signs of a weak team. Their bowling line-up lived up to the billing against England. Josh Inglish scored a century against England and others will be hungry for more in the ICC Champions Trophy. There will be the Glenn Maxwell factor as well. The last time Maxwell faced Afghanistan, he scored a majestic double century, carrying his team single-handedly.
- Matthew Short
- Travis Head
- Steven Smith (captain)
- Marnus Labuschagne
- Josh Inglis (wicket-keeper)
- Alex Carey
- Glenn Maxwell
- Ben Dwarshuis
- Nathan Ellis
- Adam Zampa
- Spencer Johnson
Probable Best Performers
Afghanistan:
- Ibrahim Zadran: In spectacular form, Zadran is expected to anchor the innings and provide a solid foundation for Afghanistan.
- Rashid Khan: As one of the leading spinners in the world, Rashid’s bowling could be vital in breaking Australia’s momentum.
- Mohammad Nabi: Offering strength with both bat and ball, Nabi is known for his ability to contribute in crunch situations.
Australia:
- Travis Head: An explosive opener, Head’s ability to score quickly could set the tone for Australia’s innings.
- Glenn Maxwell: With his power-hitting capabilities and handy off-spin, Maxwell remains a game-changer on any given day.
- Adam Zampa: Australia’s ace spinner, Zampa will be crucial in containing run flow in the middle overs and claiming key wickets.
AFG vs AUS Match Prediction
While Australia’s historical dominance in ODIs and their more experienced lineup positions them as favourites to win this match, Afghanistan’s recent run of form and the home-like conditions in Lahore could level the playing field. A victory for Australia would not only secure their place in the semifinals but would also spell elimination for Afghanistan. Nonetheless, the stage is set for a potentially closely contested match, where both teams have the talent and determination to claim victory based on their current form and team dynamics.
