Who: Afghanistan vs Australia
What: ICC Champions Trophy – Group B recreation
When: Friday, February 28 at 2pm (09:00 GMT)
The place: Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, Pakistan
Comply with Al Jazeera’s stay picture and textual content commentary stream from 05:00 GMT.
Afghanistan may have a lot on their minds once they tackle Australia of their remaining group recreation of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Lahore on Friday.
The rising drive of males’s cricket shall be in opposition to essentially the most profitable workforce in all ICC tournaments. However that’s not all. The match shall be performed below the cloud of lingering political tensions between each nations and their respective cricket boards.
Australia have refused to play in opposition to Afghanistan of their bilateral tournaments because the Taliban returned to energy within the Asian nation in 2021, a transfer not taken calmly by the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB).
The boycott has been criticised by ACB officers and Afghan gamers, in addition to an outgoing head of the Worldwide Cricket Council (ICC).
The match additionally acts as a digital knockout for each groups, offering them an opportunity to qualify for the semifinals.
Ought to Afghanistan make it by way of, it will likely be their first time within the last-four stage of an ICC occasion.
Australia, in the meantime, are not any strangers to the knockout phases and can relish the prospect to elevate one other one-day worldwide (ODI) trophy, having received the 50-over World Cup in India in 2023.
‘Who is aware of what we will obtain’
Afghanistan coach Jonathan Trott believes his workforce’s performances on the 50-overs and Twenty20 World Cups imply there isn’t a likelihood of Australia taking them calmly.
Afghanistan beat England by eight runs in Lahore on Wednesday
Of their final two ICC tournaments, Trott’s males beat England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka to complete sixth on the 50-over World Cup and entered the semifinals of the T20 version in 2024, beating Australia alongside the way in which.
“It’s all on the road, and since I’ve been coach, we’ve performed in opposition to Australia thrice and we’ve been within the recreation in every of these video games,” former England batter Trott mentioned earlier than the match.
“We must always take lots of confidence from that … definitely what occurred within the World Cup, T20 World Cup, and I say this to the gamers as nicely, that Afghanistan’s by no means going to be taken calmly ever once more.
“Up to now, maybe individuals would have seen the fixture and thought it was a bit bit simpler than enjoying a historic Check nation.
“On this format, in these circumstances, I don’t see that. Each recreation that we play goes to be aggressive and each recreation we go into I count on to win.”
Trott mentioned there was a rawness to the workforce when he took over in 2022, however they’ve grown with expertise.
“Who is aware of what we will obtain?” he requested.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐟𝐢𝐞! 🤩🤳#AfghanAtalan | #ChampionsTrophy | #AFGvENG | #GloriousNationVictoriousTeam pic.twitter.com/BMxQ6t2xpd
— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) February 26, 2025
How can Afghanistan qualify for the semifinals?
After two factors from their two video games, the template is straightforward for Trott’s aspect: Beat Australia, end with 4 factors and seal a berth.
How can Australia qualify for the semifinals?
The 2-time Champions Trophy winners have three factors from their first two video games. A win over England introduced them two factors, whereas a washed-out recreation in opposition to South Africa earned them one level.
All they want now could be one level to complete in opposition to their opponents. Ought to the match finish in no end result, Australia will bag one level and finish on 4 from three matches, sufficient to see them by way of.
A loss, although, will knock them out.
Lahore climate forecast
Climate might play spoilsport for the second recreation in a row as heavy showers are forecast within the morning. The rain shoul ease up later within the day, however is prone to have an effect on the match.
Afghanistan vs Australia: Head-to-head file
The reigning world champions have received all 4 of the ODI conferences between each side.
Type information: Afghanistan
Earlier than shedding their opening match in opposition to South Africa, Afghanistan had received 4 of their six ODIs in bilateral collection in opposition to Zimbabwe and Bangladesh.
They bounced again from the loss of their tournament-opener to beat 2019 world champions England on Wednesday.
Final 5 ODIs: NR W W L W
Type information: Australia
Australia arrived on the Champions Trophy on the again of two ODI collection losses, together with a whitewash away to Sri Lanka, however turned issues round of their opening recreation in opposition to previous rivals England.
Final 5 ODIs: L L L W NR
Afghanistan workforce information
Afghanistan are anticipated to discipline the identical XI that overcame England of their final recreation.
Squad: Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Rahmat Shah, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wicketkeeper), Ikram Alikhil (wicketkeeper), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Naveed Zadran, Farid Ahmad Malik, Nangeyalia Kharote
Australia workforce information
Australia are additionally unlikely to tinker with the profitable XI that took them over the road in opposition to their rivals.
Squad: Steve Smith (captain), Alex Carey (wicketkeeper), Nathan Ellis, Aaron Hardie, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wicketkeeper), Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Quick, Adam Zampa, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Sean Abbott, Ben Dwarshuis, Spencer Johnson, Tanveer Sangha
