Afghanistan's cricket team achieved a monumental victory over England during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, showcasing their capabilities on February 26, 2025, at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium. Batting first, Afghanistan set the stage with a remarkable total of 325 runs, led by the star of the match, Ibrahim Zadran, whose record-breaking innings of 177 propelled his side to this formidable score.
The stakes were high, as both teams entered the match needing to secure victory to avoid elimination from the group stage of the tournament. Afghanistan had faced early challenges, losing three wickets for just 37 runs, but Zadran’s phenomenal performance turned the game around. His innings, which included 12 fours and 6 sixes, became the highest individual score recorded in the history of the Champions Trophy, surpassing the previous record held by England's Ben Duckett, who had scored 165 runs against Australia earlier in the same tournament.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, Afghanistan found themselves under pressure as Jofra Archer's bowling dismantled their top order early. Despite this, Zadran forged important partnerships, including a solid 103-run partnership with captain Hashmatullah Shahidi, who contributed 40 runs off 67 balls. This collaboration was pivotal, giving Afghanistan the stability they needed to build their innings after the initial setbacks.
Subsequently, Zadran teamed up with Azmatullah Omarzai for another 72 runs and later formed another key alliance with Mohammad Nabi, adding 111 runs together. This sequence of partnerships pushed Afghanistan to beyond the 300-run mark, creating significant fear within the English bowling attack.
Archer managed to secure 3 wickets for 64 runs, making him England's most effective bowler during the match, but his performance was overshadowed by the onslaught from Zadran. Liam Livingstone and other bowlers contributed wickets but could not curb Zadran’s flow of runs.
Zadran's innings not only broke records but also marked him as Afghanistan's first-ever centurion in Champions Trophy history. His performance reflected the tremendous potential and talent within Afghanistan's cricketing ranks, which have been described as the "giant slayers" of modern cricket due to their remarkable upsets against traditionally stronger teams.
Post-match analysis highlighted Afghanistan's remarkable resilience and ability to bounce back from precarious positions during matches. Commentators noted how Zadran’s historic innings has begun to reshape perceptions of Afghanistan's capabilities on the cricketing world stage. They have consistently demonstrated their determination, having earlier secured significant victories against notable teams like Pakistan and now England.
The victory against England not only has practical significance for their chances of advancing to the semifinals but also serves to bolster the confidence and pride of the Afghan players and their fans. Given the unpredictable nature of Group B, this win leaves the door wide open for Afghanistan's prospects as they aim for more significant successes on this international platform.
Based on this latest triumph, the cricketing world is now keeping a closer eye on Afghanistan, as they continue to emerge as fierce competitors. Their performance throughout the Champions Trophy exemplifies the team's growth and adaptation, making it clear they will not be easy prey for their opponents.