Afghanistan delivered a major upset in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, defeating England by 8 runs in a Group B match. In a thrilling encounter at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium, Afghanistan's players showcased an outstanding performance, eliminating England from the tournament.
England's Sixth Consecutive Defeat; First in 15 Years
This loss marks England's sixth consecutive defeat in One Day International cricket, their first such streak since September 2009. Afghanistan had previously defeated England in the 2023 One Day International World Cup, and history repeated itself in the Champions Trophy.
Afghanistan's Victory Heroes: Jadran and Umarzai's Stellar Performances
Behind Afghanistan's historic victory were the significant contributions of opener Ibrahim Zadran and all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai.
* Ibrahim Zadran played a explosive innings of 177 runs off 146 balls, including 12 fours and 6 sixes. This is the highest individual score in Champions Trophy history.
* Azmatullah Omarzai delivered an all-round performance, scoring 41 runs and taking 5 wickets for 58 runs with the ball.
* Hashmatullah Shahidi and Mohammad Nabi contributed crucial scores of 40 runs each, helping Afghanistan reach a formidable total of 325/7.
England's Struggle and Near Miss
England were initially in a b position to chase the target, but Afghanistan's bowlers made a remarkable comeback, changing the course of the match. England were all out for 317, losing by 8 runs.
Afghanistan's Second Consecutive Victory Against England in ODIs
This win marks Afghanistan's second consecutive victory over England in One Day International cricket. They previously defeated England by 69 runs in Delhi during the 2023 One Day International World Cup. The ODI record between the two teams now stands at 2-2.
Afghanistan's Best Bowling Figures in ODI Tournaments
* 5/58 - Azmatullah Omarzai against England, Champions Trophy 2025
* 4/30 - Mohammad Nabi against Sri Lanka, World Cup 2019
* 4/34 - Fazalhaq Farooqi against Sri Lanka, World Cup 2023
* 4/34 - Shapur Zadran against Scotland, World Cup 2015
* Afghanistan's best fast bowling figures in ODIs
* 6/43 - Gulbadin Naib against Ireland, 2019
* 5/45 - Hamid Hassan against UAE, 2014
* 5/58 - Azmatullah Omarzai against England, 2025
Highest Scoring Matches in the Champions Trophy
* 707 runs - England (351/8) vs Australia (356/5), 2025
* 643 runs - India (321/6) vs Sri Lanka (322/3), 2017
* 642 runs - Afghanistan (325/7) vs England (317), 2025
* 636 runs - India (331/7) vs South Africa (305), 2013
Closest Wins (by runs) in the Champions Trophy
* 5 runs - India vs England, 2013
* 8 runs - Afghanistan vs England, 2025
* 10 runs - India vs South Africa, 2002
* 10 runs - West Indies vs Australia, 2006
* 10 runs - England vs New Zealand, 2013
Participating Teams
England: Phil Salt, Ben Duckett, Jos Buttler (c & wk), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Jofra Archer, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood.
Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sadiqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi.
Afghanistan Strengthens Semifinal Hopes
This victory significantly strengthens Afghanistan's hopes of reaching the semifinals, while ending England's Champions Trophy 2025 campaign. The Afghan team's excellent performance demonstrated their capability to defeat any major team.
