Afghanistan will be making their Champions Trophy debut, and calling them the underdogs will not be true anymore as the team beating any of the seven teams in the CT competition will not be termed as a 'UPSET' anymore. Afghanistan have taken great strides in the past five years, which included a semifinal finish in the T20 World Cup 2024 and almost a semis berth in the ODI World Cup in 2023. So, if any of the seven participating teams in the CT take them lightly, then that could prove to be fatal.
In the T20 World Cup 2024, Afghanistan thrashed New Zealand and Bangladesh, while in the 50-over World Cup in 2023, the Hashmatullah Shahidi side beat England and Pakistan and nearly took down Australia. Afghanistan's strength for a long time has been spin, but they have also now started to look solid with bat in hand, with players like Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, and Shahidi in the mix.
Afghanistan are placed in Group B - The Group of Death in CT 2025 alongside South Africa, England, & Australia. While beating any of these three big teams will be a huge achievement, Afghanisthan surely won't be overawed by the occasion.
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Afghanistan Selected 15 For ICC Champions Trophy
Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Ikram Alikhil, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangeyalia Kharote, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Farid Malik, Naveed Zadran
The Afghans have also been dealt with a massive blow ahead of CT as their mystery spinner AM Ghazanfar, has been ruled out due to injury. In his short ODI career so far, the youngster has managed to trouble quality teams like South Africa and Bangladesh due to his smart variations. His absence surely will change the dynamics of the squad. However, they have replaced Ghazanfar with another spinner Nangeyalia Kharote.
Apart from the Ghazanfar blow, the Afghans have managed to retain the rest of the core that took part in the 50-over World Cup in 2023.
Also Read: Jasprit Bumrah Injured! Mitchell Starc Withdraws: Check out the Champions Trophy 2025 Updated Squads
Probable Playing 11
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangeyalia Kharote, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Noor Ahmad
Bowling Attack Analysis
Bowling is no doubt the stronger suit for the Shahidi-led side, with four terrific spin options in Noor Ahmad, Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, and Kharote. It won't be a surprise if Afghanistan packs their playing XI with these spinners. The team's strength often relies on their slow bowlers, and on placid surfaces in Pakistan, the one-odd balls will grip and turn. The bowling attack will revolve around talisman Rashid no doubt, but understating pacer Farooqi, and the experienced Nabi will prove to be costly for the teams.
Batting Attack Analysis
The batting will revolve around Gurbaz and Zadran, as the duo often provides solid starts up front. This duo is one of the best opening pair going around the world. While Gurbaz is the aggressor, Zadran plays the anchor role. Apart from this pair, Rahmat Shah, Shahidi, and Nabi are also pretty solid in the middle order. Azmatullah Omarzai and Gulbadin Naib will play the finishing roles.
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Final Rating: 6/10
Afghanistan have managed to surprise a lot of 'BIG TEAMS' while rising to the occasion. This time also, the critics and experts are backing the team to go through the semis. And why not, as the Asian team have shown in the recent past, to never give up and fight till the end. The only glitch in the Shahidi-led side is handling pressure moments, as the team have shown crumbling in tense situations - case in point being blown away by the Glenn Maxwell assault in the World Cup match and imploding against South Africa in T20 World Cup semi-final match.
If Afghanistan manages to handle the key moments better, then they should be potentially dreaming of a maiden final appearance in the ICC event in the CT 2025 competition.
