Last Updated on February 28, 2025 by Sandeep
Afghanistan Aims to Stun Australia Again as Group B Reaches Thrilling Conclusion in Lahore
Lahore, February 28: The Champions Trophy 2025 is heating up as Afghanistan and Australia prepare for a do-or-die clash at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Friday. With both teams fighting for a semi-final berth, this promises to be a thrilling encounter between two sides that have shared intense battles in recent ICC tournaments.
“This is more than just a group-stage match—it’s a battle for survival in the Champions Trophy semi-final race,” said an ICC spokesperson ahead of the highly anticipated fixture.
Recent Rivalry: Afghanistan Looks to Edge Australia Again
Afghanistan and Australia have produced some epic encounters in ICC events recently:
🏏 2023 ODI World Cup: Glenn Maxwell’s heroic innings led Australia to a stunning comeback victory over Afghanistan.
🏏 2024 T20 World Cup: Afghanistan pulled off a sensational win, proving their growing dominance in world cricket.
🏏 2025 Champions Trophy: Both teams defeated England in tight contests—now, only one can move forward.
Form Guide: Mixed Fortunes for Both Sides
🇦🇫 Afghanistan: Entering the contest with confidence after a remarkable victory over England, Afghanistan rebounded strongly from their 107-run loss to South Africa in the opening match. The team has also been in top form in bilateral series, securing wins over Ireland, South Africa, Bangladesh, and Zimbabwe leading up to the tournament.
🇦🇺 Australia: The five-time ODI World Cup champions started their Champions Trophy campaign with a thrilling win over England but saw their much-anticipated clash against South Africa washed out. Australia has struggled for consistency, especially after a 2-0 series loss to Sri Lanka just before the tournament. Missing key bowlers Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood, they will have to rely on their depth to take down a resurgent Afghanistan.
Key Players to Watch
🔥 Ibrahim Zadran (Afghanistan)
The Afghan opener is in scintillating form, having smashed a stunning 177 off 146 balls against England. As Afghanistan’s most dependable batter, he will be crucial in setting up a competitive total against Australia’s inexperienced pace attack.
⚡ Spencer Johnson (Australia)
With Australia’s main fast bowlers absent, all eyes will be on Spencer Johnson to deliver early breakthroughs. After a disappointing 0/54 against England, the left-arm pacer will be eager to bounce back and dismantle Afghanistan’s top order, particularly Ibrahim Zadran.
Full Squads
🇦🇫 Afghanistan: Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Ikram Alikhil, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, AM Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Farid Malik, Naveed Zadran.
🇦🇺 Australia: Steve Smith (c), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Matthew Short, Adam Zampa.
What’s at Stake?
With the semi-final spot on the line, both teams will go all out in this high-pressure fixture. Can Afghanistan repeat their T20 World Cup success, or will Australia’s experience shine through? The answer awaits in Lahore.
Tags:
Champions Trophy 2025, Afghanistan vs Australia, Cricket Semi-Final Race, Afghanistan Cricket, Australia Cricket, Ibrahim Zadran, Glenn Maxwell, Spencer Johnson, ICC Cricket, Lahore Cricket Match
