Afghanistan opener Ibrahim Zadran showcased his extraordinary talent by scoring 177 runs off 146 balls against England during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Group B match held at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on February 26. His remarkable innings included 12 fours and six sixes, propelling Afghanistan to a formidable total of 325 runs for the loss of seven wickets after opting to bat first.
Zadran thanked his teammate, spinner Rashid Khan, claiming their conversations greatly contributed to his success at the crease. "Whenever I chat with Rashid, I get a score," he remarked during the mid-innings break, demonstrating how pivotal communication is within the team. At the time of this report, England was 17 runs without loss after three overs as they chased Afghanistan's target.
The 23-year-old expressed gratitude toward Afghanistan's mentor Younis Khan and head coach Jonathan Trott for their guidance, noting, "He is sharing his experience with us. I am trying to talk to him a lot during the nets sessions, and I have chatted to Jonathan Trott in the last two sessions. I just asked him, ‘What do you see, anything different?’ He said, ‘You’re playing very well. Once you cross 40, you’ll play a big innings.’ I brought this advice to my game." This insight provided Zadran with the confidence and approach to build on his innings, which turned pivotal as the team initially struggled, losing three wickets for just 37 runs.
Following the early dismissals of Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, and Rahmat Shah, the partnership between Zadran and captain Hashmatullah Shahidi, who contributed 40 runs, was instrumental. Their 103-run stand for the fourth wicket helped Afghanistan recover and stabilize their innings. Zadran reached his half-century off 64 balls but then increased his scoring rate significantly, with his next 50 runs coming off just 42 balls. He completed his century with 106 deliveries, before launching another aggressive assault on the England bowling attack, reaching 177 runs remarkably fast.
Of his approach during the innings, Zadran mentioned, "I was trying to take time and work on my basics. I always try to keep it simple." This methodology underlines the importance of fundamentals and focus, particularly under pressure during the tournament. His performance not only signaled his return to form after a year-long absence from ODI cricket but also marked the highest individual score by any Afghanistan player in ODIs and set records against England during ICC events.
At the onset of the match, England knew they were up against formidable opposition after Afghanistan posted such a high score. The pressure was on as the match progressed, with England needing to maintain composure and strategy to chase down the target set by Afghanistan. Their determination to win was apparent, especially as both teams were seeking to improve their standings and secure their spots for the semi-finals.
The tournament has already seen India and New Zealand qualify for the semi-finals, with Australia and South Africa currently leading Group B. Notably, with England and Afghanistan remaining somewhat behind, every match is now pivotal as they aim for victory to keep their hopes alive.
The first phase of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has been filled with intense competition, and as Afghanistan and England faced off, it was fascinating to witness how individual excellence could lift team spirit and performance. The significance of this performance by Zadran cannot be overstated—an achievement not just for the player but for Afghanistan's budding cricketing pedigree on the global stage.
With Zadran's heroics, Afghanistan now hopes to carry this momentum forward as they prepare for their remaining matches, including upcoming games against Australia, which will test their skills and resilience even more. Their next challenge will also determine whether they can emerge victorious and possibly qualify for the semi-finals.