Tournament debutants Afghanistan sent England packing from the ICC Men's Champions Trophy 2025 after a thrilling Group B encounter at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium. Opening batter Ibrahim Zadran's remarkable 177 powered Afghanistan to a narrow eight-run victory, knocking England out of the tournament.
Zadran's historic knock, the highest score in the tournament’s history, anchored Afghanistan’s total of 325-7.
Despite Jofra Archer’s impressive early burst, where he took three quick wickets, Zadran’s stunning 146-ball innings, which included six sixes and 12 fours, ensured Afghanistan’s dominance.
Zadran's remarkable performance earned him the Player of the Match award, as he helped Afghanistan recover from a precarious 37-3 in the ninth over.
England’s chase was anchored by Joe Root’s classy 120, which kept them in the game until the 46th over. However, Afghanistan maintained their grip on the match with regular wickets, eventually bowling out England for 317 with one ball remaining.
The defeat, England's second successive loss in the tournament, ended their hopes of advancing to the semi-finals, and now captain Jos Buttler’s future is in doubt.
"I don't want to say any emotional statements right now," Buttler said after the match. "For myself and the guys at the top, we should consider all possibilities."
Afghanistan’s historic win was a moment of immense pride for their captain, Hashmatullah Shahidi. "As a team we are happy," Shahidi said. "I know the whole nation will be happy. We'll look towards the next game."
Earlier, England’s bowlers struggled after Shahidi elected to bat. Archer’s three-wicket burst put Afghanistan on the back foot, with Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, and Rahmat Shah all falling cheaply.
However, Zadran combined with Shahidi for a crucial 103-run partnership, and valuable cameos from Azmatullah Omarzai (41) and Mohammad Nabi (40) helped Afghanistan recover and post a competitive total.
England's response faltered early, with Phil Salt and Jamie Smith falling quickly. Duckett was given a reprieve when Shahidi dropped a catch but couldn’t capitalize.
Despite a valiant effort from Root, who battled cramp to score at a run-a-ball rate, Afghanistan’s tight bowling, led by Omarzai (5-58), saw England stutter and eventually fall short.
England’s campaign ended in heartbreak, and Afghanistan, coached by former England batter Jonathan Trott, now looks to secure a semi-final spot. They must beat Australia on Friday to keep their hopes alive.
With England out of contention, Buttler’s future as captain remains uncertain after yet another disappointing campaign in an ICC tournament.
Playing XI:
England: Phil Salt, Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith (wk), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (c), Liam Livingstone, Jamie Overton, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood
Afghanistan: Rahmatullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi
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