Afghanistan’s rise in international cricket took another giant leap as they pulled off a thrilling victory over England in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Head coach Jonathan Trott, while praising his team’s resilience, emphasized the growing self-belief in the squad.
“Enjoy tonight… as soon as they wake up tomorrow, the focus is on Australia,” said Trott, making it clear that Afghanistan’s journey is far from over.
Zadran’s Masterclass Leads the Charge 💯
The match saw Afghanistan recover from a shaky 39/3 to post a formidable 325, thanks to a record-breaking 177 off 146 balls by Ibrahim Zadran – the highest individual score for Afghanistan. His innings, along with valuable contributions from Hashmatullah Shahidi (51), Azmatullah Omarzai (44), and Mohammad Nabi (43*), powered Afghanistan to a strong total.
“To get to 325 after being 39 for 3 shows Ibrahim’s quality as a player,” said Trott. “He was helped by Azmat and Nabi, who took the pressure off him, allowing him to play freely.”
Zadran’s knock was laced with some breathtaking strokes, including a stunning straight six off Jofra Archer. Trott expressed confidence that the young batter has now rediscovered his best form.
“Can Afghanistan Sustain Their ODI Cricket Surge?”
Afghanistan’s Bowling Seals a Historic Win 🎯
Defending 325, Afghanistan struck early, but England’s Joe Root kept them in the chase with his first ODI century since 2019. With 39 needed off 26 balls, Omarzai delivered the breakthrough, dismissing Root and turning the tide in Afghanistan’s favor.
Despite a late fightback from Jamie Overton and Jofra Archer, Afghanistan held their nerve. With 13 required off the final over, Omarzai bowled brilliantly under pressure, conceding just four runs and securing another famous win over England.
England’s Struggles Continue ❌
Captain Jos Buttler admitted that England’s bowling in the last 10 overs and the lack of support for Root were key reasons for their defeat.
“We started well but just couldn’t find a way to take a couple more wickets. Credit to Ibrahim, but conceding 113 in the last 10 overs was too many,” Buttler admitted.
To make matters worse, Mark Wood suffered a knee injury, limiting his ability to bowl at the death. England had to rely on Joe Root and Liam Livingstone for crucial overs, with Root’s 23-run over proving costly.
With this win, Afghanistan not only strengthened their semifinal hopes but also officially knocked England out of the tournament. As Trott said, self-belief is spreading within the squad—Afghanistan is no longer just an underdog, they are a force to be reckoned with.
