Afghan players celebrate a historic win. [Source: @PrakashSingh_73/X]
Not known for a major sporting rivalry between them, the build-up to Afghanistan-England ICC Champions Trophy 2025 match was more on political grounds. Despite high-profile calls of England needing to abandon the match, both the teams will lock horns against each other with the intention of saving their respective campaigns.
Been exposed to massive losses against South Africa and Australia respectively, only one out of Afghanistan and England will remain alive for semi-final qualification post their Lahore clash on Wednesday.
AFG vs ENG: Historical Overview In ODIs And Champions Trophy
It is to be noted that the eighth match of 2025 Champions Trophy will only be the first time when Afghanistan and England will be contesting against each other outside of limited-overs World Cups. Speaking particularly of ODI cricket, they have faced each other once each during the previous three World Cups.
While England had won the first two contests in Sydney and Manchester, Afghanistan had registered their first-ever victory against them in Delhi 17 months ago.
Afghanistan And England’s Playing XIs In Last Match
Afghanistan’s Playing XI
1) Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk) 2) Ibrahim Zadran 3) Sediqullah Atal 4) Rahmat Shah 5) Hashmatullah Shahidi (c) 6) Azmatullah Omarzai 7) Gulbadin Naib 8) Mohammad Nabi 9) Rashid Khan 10) Noor Ahmad 11) Fazalhaq Farooqi
England’s Playing XI
1) Phil Salt 2) Ben Duckett 3) Jamie Smith (wk) 4) Joe Root 5) Harry Brook 6) Jos Buttler (c) 7) Liam Livingstone 8) Brydon Carse 9) Adil Rashid 10) Jofra Archer 11) Mark Wood
Top Run-Scorers in AFG vs ENG ODIs
Only active players considered.
Joe Root – 99 Runs
One of the three players to have played the first three Afghanistan-England ODIs, England batter Joe Root has scored 99 runs at an average and strike rate of 49.50 and 100 respectively including a half-century.
Hashmatullah Shahidi – 90 Runs
Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi has scored 90 runs at an average of 45 and a strike rate of 66.17. Set to play at a high-scoring venue, Afghanistan would want him to score at a better rate.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz – 80 Runs
Afghanistan wicket-keeper batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s 80 (57) comprising eight fours and four sixes at a strike rate of 140.35 was one of the key reasons behind their maiden victory against England at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
Top Wicket-Takers in AFG vs ENG ODIs
Only active players considered.
Adil Rashid – 6 Wickets
Only bowler to dismiss more than five batters in this rivalry, veteran England spinner Adil Rashid’s six scalps have come at an average of 18, an economy rate of 5.40 and a strike rate of 20.
Mark Wood – 4 Wickets
Much like Rashid, England speedster Mark Wood has also played a couple of ODIs against Afghanistan to pick four wickets at an average of 22.50, an economy rate of 4.73 and a strike rate of 28.50.
Jofra Archer – 3 Wickets
In his solitary ODI outing against Afghanistan over half-a-decade ago, England fast bowler Jofra Archer had registered bowling figures of 10-1-52-3.
AFG vs ENG Key Stats
Afghanistan’s Key Records
- Afghanistan are yet to win an ODI in Pakistan (includes two Lahore ODIs).
- Among Test Playing nations, Afghanistan’s eight ODI wins are the second-highest in the last 12 months. Additionally, Afghanistan’s win-loss ratio of 2.666 is the highest among all teams.
- In the last one year, Afghan bowlers’ average of 21.20 and strike rate of 27.8 is the third-highest and highest respectively among all teams.
England’s Key Records
- England have lost their last five successive ODIs.
- Against Test Playing nations, England’s run rate of 6.56 is their highest against Afghanistan.
- Among Test Playing nations, England’s run rate of 4.89 is the second-worst in ODIs played at the Gaddafi Stadium.
Records Which Could Be Broken In AFG vs ENG Match
- Set to play his 44th ODI, Jos Buttler will surpass Michael Atherton to claim the seventh spot on the list of most matches as England captain.
- Each one out of Ben Duckett, Phil Salt, Rashid and Liam Livingstone could complete 1,000 ODI runs in this match.
- Shahidi needs 50 runs to become the fourth-highest ODI run-scorer for Afghanistan.