Afghanistan has won the toss and opted to bat first against England in their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Group B match at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Despite Australia successfully chasing a massive total against England in the previous game, both captains expressed a preference for batting first in this fixture.
Captains’ Reactions
Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi believes the pitch might slow down in the second innings and expects some spin later in the game. He mentioned that his team is looking to improve its bowling performance after struggling in their previous match. Afghanistan is fielding an unchanged playing XI for this contest.
England skipper Jos Buttler, on the other hand, stated that his team would have chosen to bat first as well. He pointed out that the dew played a role in their last match and that the surface skidded under the lights, making it easier for batters. England has made one change to their lineup, with Jamie Overton replacing Brydon Carse, who is out due to injury.
Playing XIs for AFG vs ENG
England: Philip Salt, Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith (wk), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (c), Liam Livingstone, Jofra Archer, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood
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
With both teams needing a win to stay in contention for the semifinals, this match is expected to be a high-stakes battle. The toss decision, pitch conditions, and dew factor could play a crucial role in determining the outcome.