England will play Afghanistan in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 on February 26, seeking their first tournament win. England recently lost to Australia despite a high score, while Afghanistan aims to recover from a defeat to South Africa. Historical encounters show England has an edge, but Afghanistan has the potential for an upset with their strong spin attack. Betting odds favor England significantly but the match promises to be competitive.
England will face Afghanistan in the eighth match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on February 26. Both teams are looking to secure their first win in the tournament, making this match crucial for their prospects moving forward. England comes into the match after a disappointing loss to Australia, despite scoring 351 runs, primarily due to Ben Duckett’s impressive 165. However, their bowlers failed to contain the Australian batsmen, who easily chased down the target.
Afghanistan also started their campaign poorly, suffering a 107-run defeat against South Africa in their inaugural Champions Trophy match. They will seek to redeem themselves and achieve their first victory in the tournament. As the match approaches, fans are encouraged to check the expected lineups, betting odds, and match predictions.
In terms of historical encounters, England and Afghanistan have faced each other three times in ODIs, with England leading the series 2-1. The most recent meeting occurred during the 2023 World Cup, where Afghanistan delivered a remarkable upset against England.
The expected England lineup includes Philip Salt, Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith (wk), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (c), Liam Livingstone, Jamie Overton, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, and Mark Wood. On the other hand, Afghanistan is likely to field Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Fazalhaq Farooqi, and Noor Ahmad.
As the match nears, England is favored to win due to their experience and better overall ODI records. Their explosive batting lineup, headed by Duckett, Root, and Buttler, is capable of posting formidable scores. Nevertheless, the bowling unit must improve performance following their lackluster display against Australia.
Afghanistan, however, possesses the potential to cause an upset, particularly with a strong spin attack that includes Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, and Mohammad Nabi—if the pitch supports spin bowling.
According to Dafabet, England remains the favorite in betting odds, with England at 3.55 and Afghanistan at 1.30, reflecting their standing as the more experienced team in this matchup.
The upcoming match between England and Afghanistan in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 holds significant importance for both teams as they seek their first win in the tournament. England, despite recent setbacks, remains the favorite due to their experienced lineup and strong batting capabilities. Afghanistan, however, is poised to challenge with a potent spin attack that could turn the match in their favor if conditions allow.
Original Source: www.sportingnews.com
