Afghanistan's captain Hashmatullah Shahidi predicts Champions Trophy 2025 semi-finalists

Afghanistan's cricket captain, Hashmatullah Shahidi, recently opened up about the intense rivalry between Afghanistan and Pakistan, especially following his team's remarkable victory over the Men in Green during the 2023 ODI World Cup held in India.

In a discussion on a popular Indian podcast, Shahidi shared his emotions surrounding the triumph, which marked a significant turning point after several close encounters with Pakistan.

“Back home, people were very happy. If you look at previous World Cups, the Asia Cup, and series against Pakistan, we came very close but didn’t win. The 2019 World Cup match was in our hands but slipped away, and in the 2022 Asia Cup, we faced heartbreak when Fazal Haq got hit for two sixes by Naseem Shah. We had lost almost eight matches that we were winning,” Shahidi reflected.

Describing the euphoric moment of securing victory against Pakistan in Chennai, he stated, “When we got the opportunity, I was lucky to lead the team, and I finished the match. After winning, it felt great; I couldn’t sleep the whole night out of happiness.”

When asked to compare the significance of the victory over Pakistan with their win against Australia in the 2024 T20 World Cup, Shahidi emphasized, “Both wins were important, but the victory over Pakistan in the ODI World Cup was monumental; people were incredibly happy.”

During the podcast, Shahidi also expressed admiration for several cricketing legends, notably preferring Virat Kohli's cover drive over that of Babar Azam. He named Jasprit Bumrah as the best bowler but also acknowledged the talent of Pakistan's Shaheen Afridi. When questioned about the toughest Pakistan pacer among Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, and Mohammad Amir, Shahidi confidently selected Shaheen.

Looking forward to the 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan, Shahidi predicted the top four semifinal teams: Afghanistan, India, England, and Australia. He notably excluded the host nation from his list, which prompted the podcast host to remind him of Bangladesh's recent Test series victory over Pakistan. Shahidi calmly countered, “The formats are different; this one is ODI now, and it’s a different format.”

Finally, Shahidi shared his all-time ODI World XI, showcasing his cricketing knowledge and respect for his peers. His lineup features Saeed Anwar, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Kumar Sangakkara, Inzamam ul Haq, Mahela Jayawardene, Rashid Latif, Andrew Flintoff, Rashid Khan, Waqar Younis, and Jasprit Bumrah. This selection underscores Shahidi’s deep appreciation for the legends of the game.