MATCH NO – 8th Match
SERIES – Champions Trophy – 2025
DATE – 26th February, 2024
TIME – 02:30 PM IST
VENUE – Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
INTRODUCTION
The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy is set to commence on February 19, 2025, marking the tournament’s return after an eight-year hiatus. This edition features the top eight One Day International (ODI) teams competing across venues in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The participating teams are divided into two groups:
Group A: Pakistan, India, New Zealand, and Bangladesh
Group B: Australia, England, South Africa, and Afghanistan
Each team will play the others in their group once, with the top two from each group advancing to the semi-finals. Matches are scheduled in Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Dubai. Notably, due to political tensions, India will play all its matches in Dubai.
Hosting this tournament is a monumental event for Pakistan, marking its first major ICC event since the 1996 World Cup. The country has undertaken extensive preparations, including stadium upgrades and enhanced security measures, to ensure a successful event.
MATCH PREVIEW
Eighth Match of Champions Trophy 2025 will be played between Afghanistan (AFG) and England (ENG) .Both teams are strong contender for CT – 2025 and Afghanistan lost their first match against South Africa by 107 runs, whereas England team scored highest score of Champions Trophy history 351 runs but failed to defend it and lost the match by 5 wickets against Australia.
Both teams boast of strong batting & bowling attacks both team looks more balanced and strong, so the battle between the batsmen and bowlers will be crucial in deciding the outcome of the match.
Considering the form and capabilities of both teams, this match has the potential to be a close contest. It will be interesting to see how the teams strategize and adapt to the conditions. Fans can again expect an exciting and competitive match between England vs Afghanistan.
PITCH REPORT
Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Pakistan, is renowned for its batting-friendly pitches, especially in One Day Internationals (ODIs). The surface typically offers consistent bounce and pace, allowing batsmen to play their shots freely. Fast bowlers may find some assistance early on, but movement tends to diminish after the initial overs. As the match progresses, spinners often become more effective due to the pitch slowing down.
Historically, the stadium has hosted 73 ODIs, with an average first-innings score of 253 runs. Teams batting first have won 37 matches, while those chasing have secured victory in 34 instances, indicating a relatively balanced contest between batting and bowling.
Notable records at Gaddafi Stadium include Pakistan’s highest team total of 375/3 against Zimbabwe in 2015, and the lowest total of 75 all out, also by Pakistan against Sri Lanka in 2009.
With the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 scheduled to host several matches at this venue, including the high-profile India-Pakistan clash on March 1, teams are expected to prepare for high-scoring encounters. Strategies will likely focus on leveraging the favorable batting conditions while effectively utilizing spin options as the pitch evolves during the game.
GROUND STATS (ODI)
| TOTAL MATCH | 69 |
| AVERAGE SCORE | 250+ |
| BATTING 1ST WON | 35 |
| BATTING 2ND WON | 33 |
| NO RESULT | 01 |
SCORING PATTERN
| BELOW SCORE 200 | 12 |
| BETWEEN 250 TO 249 | 19 |
| BETWEEN 250 TO 299 | 23 |
| ABOVE SCORE 300 | 15 |
BOWLERS STATS ON GADDAFI STADIUM (ODI)
TOTAL MATCHES PLAYED – 69
PACER WICKETS – 515
SPINNER WICKETS – 218.
AFG VS ENG TEAM NEWS,SQUADS, PLAYING11 & PLAYER STATS
AFGHANISTAN (AFG):
TEAM NEWS
- Afghanistan Team performed superb in recent ODI series and won last 3 ODI series against South Africa, Zimbabwe & Bangladesh.
- Afghanistan team lost their first match by107 runs against South Africa.
- Last time when Afghanistan and England played against each other the Afghanistan team successfully defended a total of 284 runs and won the match by 69 runs.
- Rahmat Shah has scored 90 runs in 1 innings in this season of Champions Trophy.
- Azmatmatullah Omarzai has scored 18 runs and also took 1 wicket in 1 innings in this season of Champions Trophy.
- Mohamamd Nabi has scored 9 runs and also taken 2 wickets in 1 innings in this season of Champions Trophy.
- Rashid has scored 18 runs and also took 0 wicket in 1 innings in this season of Champions Trophy.
- In the last match Afghanistan team failed to chase a total of 315 runs and lost the match by 107 runs against South Africa.
- Rahmat Shah scored 90 runs, Ibrahim Zadran scored 17 runs, Sediqullah Atal scored 16 runs, Azmatullah Omarazai scored18 runs & Rashid Khan scored 18 runs in the previous match against South Africa.
- Mohamamd Nabi took 2 wickets and Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Fazakhaq Farooqi & Noor Ahmad took 1-1 wicket each in the previous match against South Africa.
- Both teams have played 3 ODI matches and Afghanistan won 1 match and lost 2 matches against England.
SQUADS
Batting – Hashmatullah Shahidi ©, Rahmat Shah, Sediqullah Atal, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ikran Alikhil (wk).
Bowling – Fazalhaq Farooqi, Noor Ahmed, Fareed Malik, Naveed Zadran.
All Rounder – Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangeyalia Kharote.
POSSIBLE PLAYING 11
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi ©, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohamamd Nabi, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmed, Fazalhaq Farooqi.
PLAYER STATS:
1. IBRAHIM ZADRAN – RHB
| Recent 5 Innings | 16r, 11r, 3r, 24r, 7r. |
| Stats on venue | 2 INNINGS – 82 RUNS. |
| 5 Innings Against vs ENG | 28r. |
| Total Stats vs ENG | 1 INNING – 28 RUNS. |
2. RAHMANULLAH GURBAZ (WK) – RHB
| Recent 5 Innings | 10r, 5r, 1r, 1r, 6r. |
| Stats on venue | 2 INNINGS – 5 RUNS. |
| 5 Innings Against vs ENG | 80r. |
| Total Stats vs ENG | 1 INNING – 80 RUNS. |
3. SEQIQULLAH ATAL – LHB
| Recent 5 Innings | 16r, 0r, 74r, 8r, 3r. |
| Stats on venue | NOT PLAYED YET. |
| 5 Innings Against vs ENG | NOT PLAYED YET. |
| Total Stats vs ENG | NOT PLAYED YET. |
4. RAHMAT SHAH – RHB+RAO
| Recent 5 Innings | 90r, 19r, 139r, 234r, 17r. |
| Stats on venue | 2 INNINGS – 78 RUNS. |
| 5 Innings Against vs ENG | 3r, 46+0W. |
| Total Stats vs ENG | 2 INNINGS – 49 RUNS. |
5. HASHMATULLAH SHAHIDI © – LHB
| Recent 5 Innings | 0r, 13r, 13r, 246r, 20r. |
| Stats on venue | 2 INNINGS – 110 RUNS. |
| 5 Innings Against vs ENG | 14r, 76r. |
| Total Stats vs ENG | 2 INNINGS – 90 RUNS. |
6. GULBADIN NAIB – RHB+RAMF
| Recent 5 Innings | 13+0W, 5+0W, 62+2W, 55+0W, 47+1W. |
| Stats on venue | 2 INNINGS – 37 RUNS – 5W |
| 5 Innings Against vs ENG | 37+3W. |
| Total Stats vs ENG | 1 INNING – 37 RUNS – 3W. |
7. AZMATULLAH OMARZAI – RHB+RAMF
| Recent 5 Innings | 18+1W, 0W, 13+0W, 1W, 0W. |
| Stats on venue | NOT PLAYED YET. |
| 5 Innings Against vs ENG | 19+0W. |
| Total Stats vs ENG | 1 INNING – 19 RUNS – 0W. |
8. MOHAMMAD NABI – RHB+RAO
| Recent 5 Innings | 9+2W, 4+0W, 0W, 1W, 3W. |
| Stats on venue | 2 INNINGS – 68 RUNS – 0W. |
| 5 Innings Against vs ENG | 9+2W, 9+0W, 16+0W |
| Total Stats vs ENG | 3 INNINGS – 34 RUNS – 2W. |
9. RASHID KHAN – RHB+RALB
| Recent 5 Innings | 18+0W, 1W, 2W, 2W, 1W. |
| Stats on venue | 2 INNINGS – 51 RUNS – 2W. |
| 5 Innings Against vs ENG | 23+3W, 8+0W. |
| Total Stats vs ENG | 2 INNINGS – 31 RUNS – 3W. |
10. NOOR AHMAD – LAC
| Recent 5 Innings | 1W, 3W, 0W, 1W, 1W. |
| Stats on venue | NOT PLAYED YET. |
| 5 Innings Against vs ENG | NOT PLAYED YET. |
| Total Stats vs ENG | NOT PLAYED YET. |
11. FAZALHAQ FAROOQI – LAMF
| Recent 5 Innings | 1W, 1W, 1W, 1W, 2W. |
| Stats on venue | 2 INNINGS – 0 WICKET. |
| 5 Innings Against vs ENG | 1W. |
| Total Stats vs ENG | 1 INNING – 1 WICKET. |
ENGLAND (ENG)
TEAM NEWS
- England team performed not well in recent ODI Series and lost the by 0-3 in against Indian.
- England lost their first match of Champions Trophy against Australia by 5 wickets.
- Last match played between England and Afghanistan, England failed to chase a total of 284 runs and lost the match by 69 runs.
- Ben Duckett has scored 165 runs in 1 inning in this season of Champions Trophy.
- Joe Root has scored 68 runs in 1 inning in this season of Champions Trophy.
- Jos Buttler has scored 23 runs in 1 inning in this season of Champions Trophy.
- Mark Wood has taken 1 wicket in 1 inning in this season of Champions Trophy.
- Jofra Archer has taken 1 wicket in 1 inning in this season of Champions Trophy.
- Adil Rashid has taken 1 wicket in 1 inning in this season of Champions Trophy.
- Brydon Carse has taken 1 wicket in 1 inning in this season of Champions Trophy.
- Liam Livingstone has taken 1 wicket in 1 inning in this season of Champions Trophy.
- In the last match England team failed to defend a good total of 351 runs and lost the match by 5 wickets against Australia.
- Ben Duckett Scored 165 runs, Joe Root scored 68 runs, Jos Buttler scored 23 runs in the previous match against Australia.
- Adil Rashid, Brydon Carse, Mark Wood, Liam Livingstone & Jofra Archer took 1-1 wickets each in the previous match against Australia.
- Both teams played 3 matches and England team won 2 matches and lost 1 match against Afghanistan.
SQUADS
Batting – Philip Slat (wk), Joe Root, Jos Buttler © (wk), Jamie Smith (wk), Ben Duckett, Harry Brook.
Bowling – Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Mark Wood, Saqib Mahmood.
All Rounder – Liam Livingstone, Jamie Overton.
POSSIBLE PLAYING 11
Philip Salt, Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith (wk), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Butter ©, Liam Livingstone, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, Adil Rashid.
PLAYER STATS:
1. PHILIP SALT – RHB
| Recent 5 Innings | 10r, 23r, 26r, 43r, 55r. |
| Stats on venue | 1 INNING – 10 RUNS. |
| 5 Innings Against vs AFG | NOT PLAYED YET. |
| Total Stats vs AFG | NOT PLAYED YET. |
2. BEN DUCKETT – LHB
| Recent 5 Innings | 165r, 34r, 65r, 32r, 0r. |
| Stats on venue | 1 INNING – 165 RUNS. |
| 5 Innings Against vs AFG | NOT PLAYED YET. |
| Total Stats vs AFG | NOT PLAYED YET. |
3. JAMIE SMITH (WK) – RHB
| Recent 5 Innings | 15r, 6r, 22r, 89r, 3r. |
| Stats on venue | 1 INNING – 15 RUNS. |
| 5 Innings Against vs AFG | NOT PLAYED YET. |
| Total Stats vs AFG | NOT PLAYED YET. |
4. JOE ROOT – RHB+RAO
| Recent 5 Innings | 68+0W, 24+0W, 69+0W, 19+0W, 0r. |
| Stats on venue | 1 INNING – 68 RUNS – 0W. |
| 5 Innings Against vs AFG | 11+1W, 88r. |
| Total Stats vs AFG | 2 INNINGS – 99 RUNS – 1W. |
5. HARRY BROOK – RHB
| Recent 5 Innings | 3r, 19r, 31r, 0r, 2r. |
| Stats on venue | 1 INNING – 3 RUNS |
| 5 Innings Against vs AFG | 66r. |
| Total Stats vs AFG | 1 INNING – 66 RUNS. |
6. JOS BUTTLER © – RHB
| Recent 5 Innings | 23r, 6r, 34r, 52r, 7r. |
| Stats on venue | 1 INNING – 23 RUNS. |
| 5 Innings Against vs AFG | 9r, 2r. |
| Total Stats vs AFG | 2 INNINGS – 11 RUNS. |
7. LIAM LIVNGSTONE – RHB+RALB
| Recent 5 Innings | 14+1W, 9+0W, 41+1W, 5+0W, 9+0W. |
| Stats on venue | 1 INNING – 14 RUNS – 1W. |
| 5 Innings Against vs AFG | 10+1W. |
| Total Stats vs AFG | 1 INNING – 10 RUNS – 1W. |
8. BRYDON CARSE – RHB+RAMF
| Recent 5 Innings | 8+1W, 10+0W, 3W, 1W, 2W. |
| Stats on venue | 1 INNING – 1 WICKET. |
| 5 Innings Against vs AFG | NOT PLAYED YET. |
| Total Stats vs AFG | NOT PLAYED YET. |
9. JOFRA ARCHER – RAF
| Recent 5 Innings | 1W, 1W, 1W, 0W, 2W. |
| Stats on venue | 1 INNING – 1 WICKET. |
| 5 Innings Against vs AFG | 3W. |
| Total Stats vs AFG | 1 INNING – 3 WICKETS. |
10. ADIL RASHID – RALB
| Recent 5 Innings | 1W, 4W, 1W, 2W, 1W. |
| Stats on venue | 1 INNING – 1 WICKET. |
| 5 Innings Against vs AFG | 20+3W, 3W. |
| Total Stats vs AFG | 2 INNINGS – 20 RUNS – 6W. |
11. MARK WOOD – RAF
| Recent 5 Innings | 1W, 2W, 0W, 2W, 1W. |
| Stats on venue | 1 INNING – 1 WICKET. |
| 5 Innings Against vs AFG | 2W, 2W. |
| Total Stats vs AFG | 2 INNINGS – 4 WICKETS. |
HEAD TO HEAD RECORDS
TOTAL MATCHES PLAYED – 03
- AFG WIN – 01
- ENG WIN – 02
- NO RESULT – 00.
FANTASY TEAM/DREAM 11 TEAM
SMALL LEAGUE(SL-TEAM)
WK BATSMAN – J. Buttler, R. Gurbaz.
BATSMEN – R. Shah, B. Duckett.
ALL-ROUNDERS – J. Root, L. Livingstone, M. Nabi, A. Omarzai.
BOWLERS – A. Rashid, R. Khan, J. Archer.
GRAND LEAGUE(GL-TEAM)
WK BATSMAN – P. Salt.
BATSMEN – R. Shah, B. Duckett, H. Shahidi.
ALL-ROUNDERS – G. Naib, J. Root.
BOWLERS – A. Rashid, R. Khan, J. Archer, M. Wood, N. Ahmad.
BACK-UPS – H. Brooks, I. Zadran, S. Atal.
CAPTAIN/VICE-CAPTAIN (SL) – B. Duckett, J. Root.
CAPTAIN/VICE-CAPTAIN (GL) – R. Khan, R. Shah.
POSSIBLE OUTCOME –
ENGLAND MAY BE THE WINNER OF THIS MATCH.