This Wednesday in Lahore, either Afghanistan or England could see their Champions Trophy ride come to an end. England learned a hard lesson in their first match, losing to Australia even after stacking up over 350 runs, while Afghanistan got hammered by South Africa by 107 runs. Over in Group A, two teams have already nabbed their semifinal spots, but in Group B, all four teams are still in the running for the final four. England’s got a tough road ahead—it’s not gonna be easy. The last time these two faced off in an ODI, Afghanistan walked away with the win. That was during the 2023 World Cup in Delhi, where they beat England by 69 runs. England’s opener Ben Duckett smashed the biggest score ever in Champions Trophy history in their last game, pushing their total to the highest in the tournament. But that shiny record didn’t stick around long—England’s bowlers couldn’t hold onto 351, and Australia pulled off the biggest chase this competition’s ever seen.
England’s main problem is their bowling. Even with big names like Mark Wood and Jofra Archer on the team, they couldn’t keep a massive pile of runs safe last time. Things got messier with their fast bowler Brydon Carse bowing out of the tournament with an injury—leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed’s stepped in to fill his shoes. On the other side, Afghanistan’s issue is their batting. When their openers, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran, get rolling, the team feels unstoppable. But if you knock those two out quick, their middle order falls apart like a house of cards. The pitch in Lahore is a paradise for batsmen—we saw that when Australia and England played here. So, we might be looking at another game with runs flying everywhere. And once the dew shows up in the evening, it could make life even harder for the bowlers. That’s why whoever wins the toss will likely wanna bowl first. England’s gotta shake up their lineup since Carse is out—either Jamie Overton or Saqib Mahmood could slide into the final eleven from the bench. Rehan’s there too, but with Lahore’s pitch loving batsmen, it’s tricky to picture him playing.
Someone’s Going Home
This Wednesday showdown in Lahore might send Afghanistan or England packing from the Champions Trophy. Both got a rough start—England flopped against Australia, and Afghanistan took a beating from South Africa.
Group B’s Still Up for Grabs
Group A’s got two semifinalists locked in, but Group B’s a free-for-all. Every team’s still got a chance, and England’s up against an Afghanistan squad that’s topped them before in 2023.
England’s Bowling Woes
Ben Duckett set a record with his huge knock, but England’s bowlers—think Mark Wood and Jofra Archer—couldn’t save 351. With Carse out, Rehan Ahmed’s in, though the pitch might not be his friend.
Afghanistan’s Make-or-Break Batting
If Gurbaz and Zadran kick things off strong, Afghanistan’s a whole different team. But if they stumble early, the rest collapse. Lahore’s pitch and evening dew could mean tons of runs again.
