🏏ICC Champions Trophy 2025:AFG vs. AUS, Match 10, Group B, Lahore🏏

🏏ICC Champions Trophy 2025:AFG vs. AUS, Match 10, Group B🏏

The clash between Australia and Afghanistan will decide who will go to the next stage of the tournament. It is a do-or-die for Afghanistan however, from Australian perspective even if they lose the contest they will be on three points and would be hoping for England to do them a favour in the final game of this group against South Africa.

Coming into the game, Afghanistan have momentum on their side after the thrilling win they had against England. Australia too had a stunning win in their opening clash against the same opponent, however, their last game against South Africa was a wash-out at Rawalpindi.

"If we play in the World Cup, why don't we play in bilateral series?"

Rashid Khan's words, spoken in the aftermath of Afghanistan's historic win over Australia at last year's T20 World Cup, could have easily belonged to an India-Pakistan press conference. That rivalry, shaped by partition, political standoffs and decades of tension, has long been confined to ICC tournaments. But none of that applies here. For, there's no fraught history between Australia and Afghanistan, no decades of conflict or diplomatic deadlock.

They are separated by more than 10,000 kilometres, not by contested borders. And yet, Cricket Australia have refused to play Afghanistan in a bilateral series, citing concerns over the humanitarian crisis in the country, particularly the treatment of girls and women by the Taliban.

Afghanistan had Australia on the ropes before Glenn Maxwell's once-in-a-lifetime double hundred snatched victory from the brink of humiliation in Mumbai. Months later in Kingstown, at the T20 World Cup, Afghanistan finally had their moment, pulling off an upset that pointed to their growing stature in the global game. Now the two teams meet again in Lahore, this time with a Champions Trophy semifinal at stake.

The equation is simple: Australia qualify if they win or if rain washes out the game. Afghanistan go through if they win. In case of a washout, Afghanistan would go to 3 points and will need England to beat South Africa by a big margin to make it.

Afghanistan enters this contest riding a high, their confidence bolstered by a dramatic victory over England at this very ground. Ibrahim Zadran's record-breaking 177 and Azmatullah Omarzai's all-round brilliance kept their semifinal hopes alive, proving yet again that they are no longer content with being cricket's underdog story. The energy from that performance, the familiarity of conditions in Lahore and the 'infectious self belief' that their coach Jonathan Trott spoke about, make this a seminal moment. If there was ever a time to play Australia, it is now.

For Australia, the equation is different. They have looked every bit the dominant force, even without the likes of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Marsh and Marcus Stoinis. Their chase of 352 against England underscored their batting depth and ability to absorb pressure on the ICC stage, but that was a week ago. Their last match was washed out, leaving them removed from the rhythm of the tournament, while battle-hardened Afghanistan have clocked overs on the field.

Head-to-Head Record

Matches Played 04
Won by Afghanistan 00
Won by Australia 04
Tied 00
No Result 00
First-ever Fixture 25 Aug, 2012
Most-recent Fixture 07 Nov, 2023

Afghanistan are coming into this clash on the back of a huge win against England at the same venue. They defeated the Three Lions by eight runs on Wednesday to stay afloat in the competition. This was an important win for the Blue Tigers after they had been walloped by South Africa in the first game.

Meanwhile, a depleted Australian side won the first match convincingly against England as they chased down a 352-run target with five wickets and 15 balls to spare in Lahore. Australia's second game against South Africa was washed out. Afghanistan will take confidence from their win against the Aussies in the T20 World Cup 2024. However, the Asian nation hasn't beaten the Men in Yellow in ODI cricket thus far.

Pitch Report

The Gaddafi Stadium has played host to a couple of high-scoring clashes in the ongoing Champions Trophy 2025. There has been even bounce on the surface, and the margin for error is very little for the bowlers. Batters can score a lot of runs if they are willing to spend time in the middle. In the first two matches, the average first innings score is 338.

What to expect: Lahore has hosted 10 ODIs since 2022, with chasing teams winning five of them. The average first-innings score in this period stands at 300. In this tournament, Australia made light work of England's 351 in a commanding chase, while Afghanistan successfully defended 325 in a tense finish. There is a forecast for light rain, but conditions are expected to improve in the second half, when the match is scheduled.

Teams

Afghanistan

They are expected to field an unchanged side following their memorable win over England.

Probable XI: Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi(c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi

Australia

The players will be well-rested after a week-long break. Australia are likely to retain their four frontline bowling combination, with Labuschagne, Matthew Short and Glenn Maxwell sharing the remaining overs.

Probable XI: Matthew Short, Travis Head, Steven Smith(c), Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis(w), Alex Carey, Glenn Maxwell, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Spencer Johnson

AFG vs AUS probable Best Performers

Probable Best Batter: Ibrahim Zadran

Ibrahim Zadran. (Photo Source: Twitter/ICC)

Ibrahim Zadran played a blinder of a knock in the previous game against England. His 177 off 146 balls earned him massive praise from experts and fans. Zadran will want to continue from where he left off on Wednesday. If he gets himself set at the crease, the right-handed batter could score another big hundred.

Probable Best Bowler: Adam Zampa

Adam Zampa (Source: Matthew Lewis-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)

Adam Zampa picked up two wickets against England but conceded 64 runs in his 10 overs. He is the most experienced bowler in this Australian lineup, and he would have a crucial role to play through the middle overs. If he gets among the wickets, it will put the brakes on Afghanistan's scoring rate.

Did you know

- Afghanistan have never beaten Australia in an ODI

- Captains have opted to bat first in 3 out of the last 5 ODIs at the Gaddafi Stadium

What they said

"You think we will come only to play with Maxwell? Do you think it will be like that? We have planning for all Australian team." -Hashmatullah Shahidi

Today's Match Prediction: Team batting first to win the match

Scenario 1

• Afghanistan win the toss and opt to bat first
• Powerplay: 50-60
• AFG: 320-330
• Australia win the match

Scenario 2

• Australia win the toss and opt to bat first
• Powerplay: 50-60
• AUS: 350-360
• Australia win the match

Disclaimer: The prediction is based on the understanding, analysis, and instinct of the author. While making your prediction, consider the points mentioned and make your own decision.

Who: Afghanistan vs Australia

What: ICC Champions Trophy – Group B game

When: Friday, February 28 at 2pm (09:00 GMT)

Where: Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, Pakistan

The rising force of men’s cricket will be against the most successful team in all ICC tournaments. But that’s not all. The match will be played under the cloud of lingering political tensions between both countries and their respective cricket boards.

Australia have refused to play against Afghanistan in their bilateral tournaments since the Taliban returned to power in the Asian country in 2021, a move not taken lightly by the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB).

The boycott has been criticised by ACB officials and Afghan players, as well as an outgoing head of the International Cricket Council (ICC).

The match also acts as a virtual knockout for both teams, providing them a chance to qualify for the semifinals.

Should Afghanistan make it through, it will be their first time in the last-four stage of an ICC event.

Australia, meanwhile, are no strangers to the knockout stages and will relish the chance to lift another one-day international (ODI) trophy, having won the 50-over World Cup in India in 2023!!

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Format for predictions

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-Winning Team -- 5 points --

-Man of the Match -- 15 points --

-Hit the most 4s -- 10 Points --

-Hit the most 6s --10 points --

-Taking the majority of wickets --10 points --

-Making the most runs -- 10 points --