England vs Afghanistan in Champions Trophy 2025 Preview, Time, Venue, Squads

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England and Afghanistan will face eachother in a knockout match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. With both teams already having suffered a defeat in their opening games, this clash has become knockout as the losing team will be eliminated from the tournament. 

Match Details:

Venue: Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, Pakistan  
Date: February 26, 2025 (Wednesday)  
Time: 2:00 PM PST (Toss at 1:30 PM IST)  

Team Previews:

England:

England, led by Jos Buttler, enters this match with high expectations. Despite their power-packed batting lineup, including Buttler, Joe Root, and Harry Brook, their opening loss to Australia showed weaknesses in both their bowling and fielding. England will need to step up with the ball, especially with the pace attack spearheaded by Jofra Archer and Mark Wood, as Lahore’s flat pitch could favor the batters. If England can play Afghanistan spinners well, they will have a strong chance of getting back on track.

Afghanistan:

Afghanistan, captained by Hashmatullah Shahidi, will be looking to bounce back after a tough loss to South Africa. Afghanistan’s strength lies in their spin attack, led by Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad, but their bowlers were far from their best in the previous match. They will be hoping to find their rhythm on the flat tracks in Lahore, where setting a big total could be crucial. Afghanistan’s top-order, including Rahmanullah Gurbaz, has shown promise, and they will need to put up a solid total to challenge England.

Squads:

England:  

Phil Salt, Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith (wk), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (c), Liam Livingstone, Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood, Jamie Overton, Saqib Mahmood, Tom Banton, Gus Atkinson

Afghanistan: 

Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Ikram Alikhil, Nangeyalia Kharote, Naveed Zadran

Pitch Report:

The Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore offers a pitch that generally favors the batsmen. In the past, teams have been able to chase down big totals with ease, as seen in recent matches. The ball tends to come on nicely to the bat, making stroke play easier. However, there’s a possibility of dew later in the game, which might affect the conditions. Teams winning the toss may prefer to bowl first, as chasing has proven to be successful at this venue.

Weather Report:

The weather in Lahore is expected to be warm and dry with a temperature around 79°F (26°C). Clear skies are forecast throughout the match, offering ideal playing conditions.

Match Prediction:

This game is tough to call, with both teams having their strengths and weaknesses. England's batting depth and pace attack give them the edge, but Afghanistan's strong spin attack and recent victory over England in the World Cup make them dangerous opponents. The conditions in Lahore could make for a high-scoring encounter, and it may come down to which team can adapt better to the pitch and handle the pressure of the contest. 

Expect a tense, high-stakes game with both teams fighting hard for survival in the tournament.