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Champions Trophy 2025: Afghanistan's Conquest Of South Africa Rings Alarm Bells For Australia And England

Afghanistan recently crushed South Africa in an ODI series [X]Afghanistan recently crushed South Africa in an ODI series [X]

Afghanistan's rise as a cricketing nation has been inspirational, to say the least. The Blue Tigers haven't been affected by either a lack of resources or persistent political unrest, evolving themselves as one of the most formidable white-ball teams in Asia. 

Although the Afghans have achieved some remarkable feats, including a semifinal qualification in the 2024 T20 World Cup, their recent ODI series victory against South Africa is a testimony to their prowess in limited-overs cricket. 

Despite South Africa missing a few core players, Afghanistan's emphatic series win deserves massive applause, as it witnessed their sheer dominance over a side with a significantly richer cricketing legacy. Besides stamping the Atalans' authority in Asia, the historic triumph rang alarm bells for Australia and England, cricketing superpowers that are grouped together with Afghanistan for the Champions Trophy next year. 

So, as the stage heats up for a riveting tournament on Pakistani soil, here are several factors which make Afghanistan a severe threat to Australia and England's Champions Trophy campaign.

Afghanistan's Improved ODI Performance Vs Top Teams

Time Period
Matches Played
Won
Lost
W/L Ratio
1st Jan 2010-31st Dec 2019
367270.259
Since 1st Jan 20203110200.50

As they say, Rome wasn't built in a day; Afghanistan gradually grew into a competitive white-ball team. Initially regarded as minnows, the Afghans fine-tuned themselves, eventually giving the higher-ranked teams a run for their money. Their win-to-loss ratio against the best sides rose from a meagre 0.259 in the 2010s to a significantly higher 0.50 this decade, speaking volumes for their evolution as a potent force in One-Day Internationals. 

Afghanistan: A Ruthless Force In The Subcontinent

Afghanistan's recent white-ball success is primarily due to their remarkable performance in the subcontinent. Statistically, Afghanistan have had a better win/loss ratio than Bangladesh in Asia since 2022. There are several reasons behind their dominance in the subcontinent. 

A Robust Opening Pair

Innings
Innings
Runs
Average
50s/100s
Rohit Sharma And Shubman Gill25173272.1611/5
Rahmanullah Gurbaz And Ibrahim Zadran31151448.833/5

(Most Runs By An Opening Pair Since Ibrahim Zadran's ODI Debut)

The opening pair of Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran has played a pivotal role in elevating Afghanistan's stature in world cricket. The dynamic batting duo has slammed the second most runs for the opening wicket since Zadran's ODI debut in 2019. While Gurbaz brings flamboyance and an aggressive mindset to the table, Zadran's ability to build the innings makes him one of the finest anchors in modern-day ODIs. 

A lethal Spin Bowling Department

Rashid Khan is the linchpin of Afghanistan's spin unit [X]Rashid Khan is the linchpin of Afghanistan's spin unit [X]

The biggest factor which makes Afghanistan a team to beat in Asia is their formidable spin bowling department. Led by Rashid Khan, Afghanistan have an all-round spin attack with all bases covered. Besides the experienced players like Rashid, Mujeeb and Mohammad Nabi, the emergence of Noor Ahmad, Allah Ghazanfar and Nangeyalia Kharote ensures they don't run out of quality options anytime soon. 

The presence of multidimensional players

Every team desires to have as many multi-dimensional players as possible to succeed in modern-day cricket. But Afghanistan is one of the few sides that has numerous all-rounders in its setup. Barring the experienced Mohammad Nabi and Gulbadin Naib, the young Azmatullah Omarzai and the reliable Rashid Khan make Afghanistan a versatile team in Asian conditions.  

The Success That Generates Hope For Afghanistan

Afghanistan thrashed England in 2023 World Cup [X]Afghanistan thrashed England in 2023 World Cup [X]

Apart from their skillset, what makes Afghanistan a team to watch out for in the Champions Trophy is their self-belief. Earlier, they used to claim the driving seat while faltering in finishing close matches. But after Jonathon Trott was appointed their head coach, Afghanistan showed remarkable signs of development, learning the art of sealing the crunch moments. 

Whether their memorable wins over England and Pakistan in the ODI World Cup or the historic triumph over the mighty Aussies, the Afghans have showcased their ability to excel against all odds at the biggest stage. So, their past success should motivate them to go one step further and dismantle the Ashes rivals in the marquee competition.