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Afghanistan have kept their hopes alive in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 with a stunning victory against England. After losing their tournament opener against South Africa, Afghanistan faced a must-win situation against the defending champions. Despite losing two early wickets, Ibrahim Zadran played a historic knock of 177 runs, guiding his team to a formidable total of 325. The Afghan bowlers then showcased immense resilience, defending the target despite bowling with a wet ball. This victory has not only boosted Afghanistan’s morale but has also kept them in contention for a semifinal spot.
Do-or-die clash against Australia awaits Afghanistan
Afghanistan will now take on Australia in their final Group B fixture, a match that will decide their fate in the tournament. A win will secure their place in the semifinals, while a loss will see them crash out of the competition. With Australia being one of the strongest teams in the competition, Afghanistan will have to bring their best performance to the field. Their recent success against England have given them a newfound belief, but overcoming Australia remains a tough challenge.
Wasim Akram predicts the winner of the high-voltage match
Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has backed Afghanistan to cause another major upset in the tournament. Speaking on Ten Sports, Akram expressed confidence in Afghanistan’s ability to defeat Australia.
“Surely Afghanistan’s team can beat Australia. The way Afghanistan defeated England, I am sure they can overpower Australia too. Losing two wickets early, then Ibrahim Zadran scoring 177, and later the bowlers defending 325 runs with a wet ball—this was amazing. As a team, Afghanistan’s players have gained confidence that they can now win big matches,” said Akram.
While he acknowledged that the match could be one-sided in Australia’s favor, Akram emphasized that if Afghanistan remain in form and play at their full potential, they can pull off another shock victory.
Also READ: AFG vs AUS: Lahore Weather Forecast for Afghanistan vs Australia, Match 10 | ICC Champions Trophy 2025
Akram highlights the team’s hunger to succeed
Akram further praised Afghanistan’s mentality and hunger to succeed in big tournaments. He pointed out that the players are driven by their desire to prove themselves against top teams.
“The hunger to win against big teams is clearly visible in Afghanistan’s players. When they come to bat and bowl, their intent is to give their 100 percent. It is fun to watch. This is a team that has created upsets in the past, and now they have a strong chance to defeat Australia as well,” Akram added.
With Afghanistan’s semifinal hopes hanging in the balance, all eyes will be on their clash against Australia. Will they pull off another historic victory, or will Australia prove too strong for them? The high-stakes encounter promises to be an electrifying battle.
