Afghanistan stunned the cricketing world with a dramatic eight-run victory over England, eliminating the seasoned team from the ICC Champions Trophy. The match, held at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, turned on its head as England failed to chase down Afghanistan's imposing total of 325, ending with 317 runs on February 26, 2025.
The star of the show was Ibrahim Zadran, whose remarkable display of batting saw him hammer 177 runs from just 146 balls. This performance not only marked his sixth ODI hundred but also set a new record for the highest score by an Afghan player in the format, surpassing Ben Duckett's previous Champions Trophy record of 165 runs.
Afghanistan's victory came as they had to rebound from early wickets, finding themselves at 37 for 3 after Jofra Archer’s explosive start, which saw him claim three wickets within the first ten overs. But Zadran, with solid partnerships, especially with Hashmatullah Shahidi (40 runs), and later with Azmatullah Omarzai (41 runs), led his team to build their innings back up amid the pressure.
Despite facing fierce competition, Zadran's output ramped up as he blazed through the final ten overs, scoring 113 runs. The turning point for England lay particularly on Zadran’s innings, which embodied Afghanistan's spirited comeback as they piled on runs rapidly and kept their opponents under constant pressure.
On the other side, England's chase was bolstered by Joe Root, who was the bedrock of their quest, scoring 120 runs from 111 balls. He contributed significantly through partnerships, but with wickets falling consistently around him, Root bore the entire burden of the chase. His departure, caught behind off Azmatullah Omarzai, came at the most detrimental of times, with England requiring just 39 runs off the final 25 balls.
That moment marked the beginning of England's unraveling. Jamie Overton (32 runs) and Jofra Archer (14 runs) managed to keep matters interesting, and at one point, England were just 13 runs shy of the target with only two deliveries left. But Rashid Khan's bowling proved too much for them, and with Rashid caught off the penultimate delivery, Afghanistan's victory was sealed.
Following the match, England captain Jos Buttler expressed his disappointment, noting, “It’s tough to say... but it’s fair to say you’ve got to look at all possibilities.” The defeat now casts shadows over his captaincy, particularly after multiple tournament failures, including the recent World Cups.
Butler acknowledged the lack of confidence within his squad, which had experienced six successive ODI defeats, calling for improvement and self-reflection within the team. “I’ve enjoyed the captaincy... but certainly when it doesn’t go your way, you have to look at yourself and see if you’re part of the problem or part of the solution,” he added.
On the flip side, Afghanistan celebrated their victory as not only indicator of their growth as a cricketing nation but also as theme of resilience within their tumultuous political backdrop. The political issues surrounding their participation had sparked discussions prior to the game, but nothing hampered the players' determination as they continued to make history on the field.
With this result, England is left with one match remaining against South Africa to salvage some pride after the humiliations faced during the tournament. Meanwhile, Afghanistan will face Australia, now with their eyes set on potentially advancing to the semi-finals, having taken down the reigning world champions.
Looking back, the match underscored not just the achievements of the players but the spirit of sportsmanship and unity, demonstrating how cricket brings hope and joy, surviving even through the most challenging times.