Afghanistan's cricket team pulled off a stunning upset against Australia to secure their spot in the semifinals of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, marking their entry as legitimate contenders on the world stage. The match, held at the Gaddafi Stadium, witnessed Afghanistan achieving the unthinkable by beating Australia by four wickets, with standout performances from several players.
Batting first, Afghanistan set the tone for the game, scoring 273 runs after opting to bat. Although they lost early wickets, Sediqullah Atal played admirably, hitting 85 runs off 95 balls, demonstrating both grit and skill to stabilize the innings. His knock was particularly significant, considering he faced pressure after the loss of the opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who fell victim to Spencer Johnson’s bowling.
Azmatullah Omarzai also shone brightly, contributing 67 runs from 63 balls, which included key partnerships as Afghanistan built their total. Omarzai's performance was noteworthy not just for his runs but also because he became the third Afghan player to reach the milestone of 1,000 ODI runs during this match, consolidifying his standing as one of the country's rising stars. “With my 1,000 runs, I want to show the world the growth of Afghan cricket. This win is which was huge—taking down Australia,” Omarzai stated, reflecting on their triumph.
While the Afghans put forth notable batting and bowling efforts, it was also the Australian captain Steve Smith who provided some drama during the game. A moment of frustration struck when Smith called for the Decision Review System (DRS) after wicketkeeper Josh Inglis claimed to have extracted an edge from Omarzai’s bat. The review, called during the 38th over, proved to be disastrous as UltraEdge confirmed there was no contact between bat and ball, resulting not only in wasted opportunity but also adding pressure to the Australian side when Australia desperately needed breakthroughs.
The match continued to evolve with Afghanistan reaching 273 all out, led by the strong showing from their lower order. Following their batting display, Afghanistan later displayed their bowling prowess by restricting Australia to 269 runs. The Australian innings was led by Matthew Short (a solid 66) and contributions from other batsmen, but they faced setbacks against Afghanistan’s spin attack.
Ben Dwarshuis excelled for Australia with three wickets, but the Afghan bowlers, particularly Omarzai, who had earlier made his mark with the bat, turned the tide with his bowing abilities, securing four wickets and destabilizing Australia’s run chase. His final figures of 5-58 became the highlight of his performance, raising more than eyebrows across the cricketing fraternity.
The victory stands as one of Afghanistan’s greatest moments on the world stage, not to mention sending shockwaves through the cricket community considering their previous matches against Australia. “To defeat Australia, and to achieve my 1,000 runs, this is such fulfilling achievement for me,” remarked Omarzai.
Afghanistan will carry the momentum forward. A rematch against Australia lies on the horizon as they step on the field again, improving their techniques and coming through various matches with their heads held high. Facing off once again amplifies their determination. If they can pull off another upset, they will not only secure their position but elicit even greater recognition within professional cricket.
With this remarkable upset, Afghanistan solidifies their reputation as formidable contenders, setting high expectations for their next matches. Undoubtedly, this victory against one of the world’s top teams marks them as game-changers and trendsetters, opening doors to unprecedented opportunities for Afghan cricket.