ENG vs AFG Weather Forecast, Pitch Report of Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore | ICC Champions Trophy 2025
ENG vs AFG: One of the most important contests of GROUP B–England vs Afghanistan–is scheduled to be played at the Gaddafi Stadium of Lahore, Pakistan today. This is going to be a "winner takes all and the loser loses all" type of match as there is a lot to win and lose.
Both teams have already suffered one defeat in their three-game league stage, making this match a must-win to stay in contention for the semifinals. Their chances would have been minimized if the AUS vs SA match had a result but the abandoned match between Australia and South Africa have opened up more opportunities for these two teams.
The last time these two sides met in an ICC tournament, Afghanistan stunned England with a 69-run victory in the 2023 ODI World Cup. Given the subcontinental conditions and Afghanistan’s spin strength, this match promises to be a close battle. However, pitches in Pakistan have been batting heavy till now and Afghanistan's bowling is more golden on spin-friendly surfaces.
Both teams endured heavy losses in their opening games. England's 351-run total against Australia was comfortably chased down, exposing their weak bowling attack. Afghanistan, on the other hand, struggled against South Africa, conceding 315 runs and then collapsing with the bat.
While England holds a slight edge due to their superior pace bowling attack, Afghanistan's ability to put up a strong first-innings total could make things interesting. Dew is expected to be a key factor, favoring the chasing team.
Let's take a look at the Squads, probable playing11s, Gaddafi Stadium's Pitch Report, and Weather Forecast for the ENG vs AFG match:
ENG vs AFG: Squads
Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), 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.
England: Philip Salt, Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith(w), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler(c), Liam Livingstone, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood, Jamie Overton, Rehan Ahmed, Saqib Mahmood, Tom Banton, Gus Atkinson.
Probable Playing XIs
Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz(wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi(c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb-ur-Rahman/Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi.
England: Phil Salt, Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith(wk), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler(wk), Liam Livingstone, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Jofra Archer, Mark Wood.
ENG vs AFG Gaddafi Stadium Pitch Report
The Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore is known for its batting-friendly pitches, with high-scoring matches being a regular affair. In recent ODIs at this venue, teams have successfully chased down 300+ targets. The presence of dew in the second innings could make bowling difficult, favoring the team batting second. Captains winning the toss might prefer to bowl first.
Lahore's Weather Forecast
The weather in Lahore is expected to be clear, with no rain predicted. The temperature will stay in the 20s throughout the match. High humidity and cloud cover could aid swing bowling early on, making it challenging for batters in the initial overs. However, as the game progresses and dew sets in, batting conditions should improve.
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