The opening batter of the Afghanistan side, Ibrahim Zadran, has dedicated his ‘Player of the Match’ award to their head coach, Jonathan Trott, who ends his stint with the Asian side post their T20 World Cup 2026 clash against Canada at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, and claimed a victory by 82 runs. 

Ibrahim Zadran contributed massively with a fine knock of unbeaten 95 runs in 56 balls at the opening spot at a strike rate of 169.54, smashing seven boundaries and five sixes, while Sediqullah Atal smashed 44 runs in 32 balls at a strike rate of 137.50, thanks to two fours and two sixes.

See Also: No Pakistan players for The Hundred 2026? Report drops bombshell regarding Indian-owned franchises

“I would also like to dedicate this Player of the Match award to our coach, Jonathan Trott. I’ve learned so much from him - he has encouraged and supported not just me, but the entire team. Under his guidance, we’ve achieved a lot in international cricket and ICC events. This is his last day with us, and we will truly miss him. I wish him all the very best for the future.” Zadran expressed in the post-match presentation.

Ibrahim Zadran dedicates award to exiting coach Jonathan Trott

Since taking charge in July 2022, Trott has helped them to a sixth-placed finish in the 2023 ODI World Cup and made the semifinals of the 2024 T20 World Cup. The franchise leagues took note of their achievements, and Trott went on to work with Pretoria Capitals in 2024-25 and with Gulf Giants in 2025-26.  

Watch the video here: 

Ibrahim Zadran dedicated his Player of The Match award to Head Coach Jonathan Trott @Trotty, who bid farewell to his tenure with Afghanistan today. @IZadran18 👏🏽

Via @ICC #AFGvCAN #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/y3HKXypJLT

— Bashir Gharwal غروال (@bashir_gharwall) February 19, 2026

“I'm not going to let you put words in my mouth. But, you know, I've really enjoyed this. I don't know what the future holds. Maybe I have a couple of days off and see how it goes. And I look forward to seeing how the rest of the World Cup goes. I wish we were still here and able to play in the next round.” Trott expressed in the press conference.

Trott’s initial tenure was of 18 months and was given a 12-month extension in 2024 and again in 2025. He hopes to see more development in them, bringing more fast bowlers, ahead of the 2027 World Cup.

Brief Scores: Afghanistan 200/4 (Ibrahim Zadran 95*, Sediquallh Atal 44, Jaskaran Singh 3/52) beat Canada 118/8 (Harsh Thaker 30, Mohammad Nabi 4/7) by 82 runs. 

Afghanistan produced a commanding all-round performance to crush Canada by 82 runs in their Group D match of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. Afghanistan's batting lineup wasted no time in asserting their authority from the start of the match. The team's approach to batting was tactical, scoring 200 runs for 4 wickets, which Canada had little hope of chasing down on a surface that favoured disciplined batting. The innings was anchored by Ibrahim Zadran, who scored an unbeaten 95 runs with an excellent mixture of timing and power; Rahmanullah Gurbaz got the innings off to a rapid start, while Sediqullah Atal kept the run-rate up with his fluent strokeplay in the middle overs, giving the bowlers a substantial amount of runs to defend. 

In their attempt to chase down the target, Canada was never able to establish a rhythm; although Harsh Thaker and Saad Bin Zafar were able to provide some resistance early in the innings, the fall of wickets at regular intervals broke the flow of the innings, putting an unrealistic target on the scoreboard for Canada's remaining batters. Afghanistan's bowlers applied consistent pressure on the Canadian batsmen, bowling consistently tight lines and changing their variations effectively, which meant that partnerships could not be built. By the halfway mark of the innings, it had become apparent that the game had already been lost, forcing Canada's batters to play unnecessarily aggressive shots, only increasing the likelihood of losing wickets. The disciplined execution by Afghanistan's fielders demonstrated their tactical intelligence and intent to close the game out without giving an opposition player even a glimmer of hope of a comeback.

With a brilliant 4/7 performance that tore through the middle order and snuffed out any last remnant of hope for the opposition, Mohammad Nabi delivered the decisive blow to win the match, while captain Rashid Khan provided the ideal support with his probing variations and control. Together they showed experience and depth to dominate every dimension of the match and their performance was a clear example of both, experience and depth, when put under pressure. The tone of their emphatic win demonstrated a nice balance of both aggression and discipline, further demonstrating why Afghanistan are perceived as a dangerous side throughout the tournament. In comparison, Canada fell well short of either intensity or consistency and the result illustrated, in no uncertain terms, the loss of execution between the two sides.

See Also: 'They were great but....' - Shadab Khan lashes out amid criticism from senior Pakistan player following their loss against India in T20 World Cup 2026

T20 World Cup 2026: Updated Points Table after AFG vs CAN Match 39

Group A Standings

Group B Standings

Group C Standings

Group D Standings

T20 World Cup 2026: Top Performances

Most Runs

Most Wickets

AFG vs SCO Match Preview

AFG vs SCO Match Details

Afghanistan vs Scotland – 01st Warm-up Match, ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2026

Venue: BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground, Bengaluru

Date & Time: 02nd February 2026 at 03:00 PM IST 

Live Streaming: JioHotstar

AFG vs SCO Venue Stats 

AFG vs SCO Pitch Report

Once hitters settle in for a T20I at BCCI Centre, scoring can pick up quickly—the pitch has true bounce, and the ropes are closer than at many older Indian grounds. 

AFG vs SCO Weather Report

The evening will be clear, with a high of 26 degrees Celsius during the time of the match 

AFG vs SCO Last Five Matches

AFG vs SCO Head-to-Head Stats

Injury News

No Injury. Will be added when there is an update.

Also Read: SL vs ENG Dream11 Prediction Playing XI: 2nd T20I

AFG vs SCO Probable Playing XIs:

Afghanistan Probable Playing XIs

Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan(C), Fazalhaq Farooqi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad

Scotland Probable Playing XIs

George Munsey, Richie Berrington(C), Matthew Cross, Brandon McMullen, Chris Greaves, Tom Bruce, Michael Leask, Mark Watt, Safyaan Sharif, Bradley Currie, Jack Jarvis

Topmost Picks for AFG vs SCO Dream11 Prediction:

Top Picks – Afghanistan

• Ibrahim Zadran – He looked in excellent form in the recently finished T20I series against the West Indies. Zadran paces his innings exceptionally well in the brief format.
• Rashid Khan – Skipper Rashid Khan is expected to be Afghanistan's leading wicket-taker in both warm-up and main event matches.

Top Picks – Scotland

• George Munsey – George Munsey is a hard-hitting top-order batsman who can challenge bowlers from the start. Munsey is expected to score runs in the upcoming matches.
• Bradley Currie – He is an effective pacer who does not leak runs and takes wickets when it counts the most for his team.

Suggested Playing XI N0.1 for AFG vs SCO Dream11 Team:

Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Matthew Cross, Brandon McMullen(VC), Ibrahim Zadran(C), George Munsey, Richie Berrington, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Mark Watt, Bradley Currie, Rashid Khan

Captain and Vice-Captain Options:

Captain – Ibrahim Zadran, Rashid Khan

Vice-captain – Brandon McMullen, George Munsey

Wicketkeeper – Rahmanullah Gurbaz

AFG vs SCO Probable Winners:

Scotland has few chances of making it past the league stages of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. Afghanistan is a strong team that is expected to perform well in their upcoming matches. Afghanistan's strength in this match should lead to an easy victory over Scotland, unless Scotland performs exceptionally well. Considering the team combination, Afghanistan is expected to win this match.

AFG vs SCO FAQ

Q: Who is likely to win the AFG vs SCO match today?

A: Afghanistan is expected to win this match.

Q: Who is ahead in head-to-head stats?

A: Afghanistan is ahead in H2H stats.

Q: Who are the top fantasy picks for the AFG vs SCO Dream11 team?

A: Ibrahim Zadran, Rashid Khan, Brandon McMullen, George Munsey.

Q: What is the pitch report for this match?

A: Once hitters settle in for a T20I at BCCI Centre, scoring can pick up quickly—the pitch has true bounce, and the ropes are closer than at many older Indian grounds.

New Zealand star Daryl Mitchell has climbed to the top of the ICC Men’s ODI Batting Rankings, ending Rohit Sharma’s brief stay at No.1. Mitchell’s rise comes on the back of his match-winning century (119) in the first ODI against the West Indies in Christchurch, where the Black Caps edged home by seven runs.

The in-form right-hander now sits on 782 rating points, just one ahead of Rohit, who had held the top spot for close to three weeks. In the process, Mitchell becomes only the second New Zealander to be ranked No.1 in ODI batting, the first since Glenn Turner achieved the feat way back in 1979.

Latest ICC ODI Batting Rankings - Top 5

Mitchell joins an elite Kiwi list that includes Martin Crowe, Andrew Jones, Roger Twose, Nathan Astle, Kane Williamson, Martin Guptill, and Ross Taylor, all of whom have previously featured in the top five but never reached No.1.

ALSO SEE: BCCI releases official fitness update on Shubman Gill ahead of IND vs SA 2nd Test in Guwahati

Pakistan also enjoyed major ranking boosts following their 3-0 sweep of Sri Lanka. Mohammad Rizwan jumped five places to 22nd while Fakhar Zaman climbed to 26th. On the bowling front, rising spinner Abrar Ahmed surged into ninth, and Haris Rauf moved to 23rd, although Rashid Khan continues to lead the ODI bowlers.

Test rankings shake-up after Kolkata clash

The first Test between India and South Africa at Eden Gardens brought updates across formats. Proteas captain Temba Bavuma broke into the top five Test batters for the first time after his unbeaten 55 steered South Africa home. India’s Shubman Gill moved up to 11th despite suffering an injury.

Jasprit Bumrah remains the No.1 Test bowler, with strong support from Kuldeep Yadav (13th) and Ravindra Jadeja (15th). South Africa’s Marco Jansen climbed to 11th among bowlers and fifth in Test all-rounders after a solid outing.

With New Zealand celebrating a rare No.1 ranking and India locked in an intense Test battle, the race across ICC charts is heating up as the cricket calendar enters a crucial phase.

The Afghanistan vs Bangladesh ODI series has started on an unexpected note, where Afghanistan has come out as the winner in the 1st fixture. In the 1st ODI, Afghanistan bowlers controlled the game, and their top order batters helped to gain an advantage, with the middle order completing the chase. Afghanistan’s key bowlers played an important role in the 1st ODI. Rashid Khan and Azmatullah Omarzai each took three wickets and restricted the opponents to a below-par total. Afghanistan’s batting looks very strong with the likes of Rahmat Shah and Hashmatullah Shahidi at 4 and 5.

AFG vs BAN Match Details

Date: 11th October, 2025

Time: 5:30 PM IST

Venue:Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi 

Live Streaming: Fancode  

AFG vs BAN Weather & Pitch Report 

Whether Report -

There are no signs of any rain interruptions throughout the game. It is pleasant conditions and perfect throughout the game.

Pitch Report - 

• Avg 1st innings score: 230-250

• The chasing team has an advantage

Also Read: ICC Women's ODI World Cup 2025: ENG-W vs SL-W Today Match Prediction– 12th Match, Who will win today?

Top Batters to Watch in AFG vs BAN

• Mehidy Hasan Miraz (BAN) - 60 runs in this Series 

• Towhid Hridoy (BAN) - 56 runs in this Series 

• Rahmanullah Gurbaz (AFG) – 50 runs in this Series 

Top Bowler to Watch in AFG vs BAN

• Rashid Khan (AFG) - 3 wickets in this Series 

• Tanzim Hasan (BAN) - 3 wickets in this Series 

• Azmatullah Omerzai (AFG) - 3 wicket in this Series 

AFG vs BAN Recent Form

AFG vs BAN Today Match Prediction Scenarios

Scenario 1- If AFG bats first

• Powerplay prediction- 45-50 Runs 

• First Innings score prediction- AFG is expected to score 250-260 Runs

• Result prediction- AFG will win the match by 20-30 Runs 

Scenario 2- If BAN bats first

• Powerplay prediction- 40-45 Runs 

• First Innings score prediction- BAN is expected to score 215-225 Runs

• Result prediction- AFG will win the match by 4 wickets 

Who will hit the Most Sixes?

Who will hit the most sixes for Afghanistan in the match: Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Azmatullah Omarzai

Who will hit the most sixes for Bangladesh in the match: Najmul Hossain Shanto and Tanzid Hasan

Who will hit the Most Fours?

Who will hit the most fours for Afghanistan in the match: Ibrahim Zadran and Hashmatullah Shahidi 

Who will hit the most fours for Bangladesh in the match: Towhid Hridoy and Mehidy Hasan Miraz

AFG vs BAN Predicted Playing XI

Afghanistan (AFG) Playing XI 

Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangeyalia Kharote, AM Ghazanfar, Bashir Ahmad.

Bangladesh (BAN) Playing XI

Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Saif Hassan, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (c), Jaker Ali (wk), Towhid Hridoy, Nurul Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Tanvir Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib.

AFG vs BAN Complete Squad

Afghanistan - 

Hashmatullah Shahidi, Rahmanullag Gurbaz (WK), Ikram Alikhil (WK), Darwish Rasooli, Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangeyalia Kharote, Abdollah Ahmadzai, Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar and Mohammad Saleem.

Bangladesh -

Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Jaker Ali (WK), Nurul Hasan (WK), Mohammad Naim, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Tanzid Hasan, Towhid Hridoy, Rishad Hossain, Saif Hassan, Shamim Hossain, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Hasan Mahmud, Mustafizur Rahman, Nahid Rana, Tanvir Islam and Taskin Ahmed

AFG vs BAN Today Match Prediction - Who Will Win Today?

Afghanistan to win

We predict that Afghanistan will win the 2nd ODI match. The likes of Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Rashid Khan will be key players to watch out for.

AFG vs BAN 2nd ODI FAQ

1. What is the venue for the AFG vs BAN 2nd ODI 2025?

The 2nd ODI will be played at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi.

2. What time does the AFG vs BAN 2nd ODI start?

The match will start at 5:30 PM IST on October 11, 2025.

3. Who won the 1st ODI between Afghanistan and Bangladesh?

Afghanistan won the 1st ODI convincingly to take a 1-0 lead in the series.

4. Who will win today’s AFG vs BAN match?

As per the today match prediction, Afghanistan are favourites to win the 2nd ODI.

The Afghanistan team will be upset with the loss against Pakistan in the final of the United Arab Emirates T20I Tri-Series 2025. However, the side has displayed good form in the last few months and shall take inspiration from that. 

On the other hand, the Hong Kong team will have a tough test in their opening game. The team has struggled against the associate nations in the last few months and faces a bigger challenge in this game. Their batters must do well against the Afghan spinners. 

AFG vs HK Match Details

Date: 9th September, 2025

Time: 8:00 PM IST

Venue: Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi 

Live Streaming: Fancode  

AFG vs HK Weather Report

Clear weather

Also Read: ENG vs SA, 1st T20I Match Prediction– Who will win the Match?

Top Batters AFG vs HK

• Rahmanullah Gurbaz (AFG) - 1781 runs in T20I 

• Ibrahim Zadran (AFG) - 1299 runs in T20I 

• Nizakat Khan (HK) - 2266 runs in T20I 

Top Bowler AFG vs HK

• Rashid Khan (AFG) - 170 wickets in T20I 

• Mohammad Nabi (AFG) - 101 wickets in T20I 

• Ehsan Khan (HK) - 127 wickets in T20I 

AFG vs HK Recent Performance

AFG vs HK Today Match Prediction Scenarios

Scenario 1- If AFG bats first

• First Innings score prediction- AFG is expected to score 170-185 runs

• Result prediction- AFG will win the match by 30-50 runs

Scenario 2- If HK bats first

• First Innings score prediction- HK is expected to score 120-140 runs.

• Result prediction- AFG will win the match by 8 wickets 

AFG vs HK Predicted Playing XI

Afghanistan (AFG) Playing XI 

Rashid Khan (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Sediqullah Atal, Ibrahim Zadran, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Karim Janat, Mohammad Nabi, AM Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi.

Hong Kong (HK) Playing XI 

Yasim Murtaza (c), Anshuman Rath, Babar Hayat, Martin Coetzee, Nizakat Khan, Aizaz Khan, Zeeshan Ali (wk), Ateeq Iqbal, Ehsan Khan, Kincht Shah, Adil Mehmood.

AFG vs HK Complete Squad

Afghanistan - 

Rashid Khan (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Darwish Rasooli, Sediqullah Atal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Karim Janat, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Mohammad Ishaq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Allah Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad, Farid Malik, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi.

Hong Kong -

Yasim Murtaza (c), Babar Hayat, Zeeshan Ali, Niazakat Khan Mohammad, Nasrulla Rana, Martin Coetzee, Anshuman Rath, Kalhan Marc Challu, Ayush Shukla, Mohammad Aizaz Khan, Ateeq ul Rehman Iqbal, Kinchit Shah, Ali Hassan, Shahid Wasif, Ghazanfar Mohammad, Mohammad Waheed, Ehsan Khan.

AFG vs HK Today Match Prediction, Who Will Win the Match?

Afghanistan to win

We predict that Afghanistan will win this Asia Cup 2025 match. Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran and Rashid Khan will be key players to watch out for.

The defending champions, Rangpur Riders, have officially announced their squad for the upcoming 2025 ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League (GSL), set to be held at the Guyana National Stadium in Providence from 10 to 18 July. As titleholders, the Riders will return to Caribbean shores looking to replicate their dramatic title run from last year and retain their crown.

In the 2024 season, Rangpur Riders turned it around with a grand flourish—beginning with three straight losses followed by three consecutive victories to capture the title. Their gritty fightback, which was fueled by good leadership, an attacking bowling pack, and aggressive top-order hitting, endeared them to fans and entrenched themselves in GSL lore.

With one of the best records in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) for consistency, the Riders arrive with a history of high-quality cricket. BPL champions in 2017 and constant playoff hopefuls ever since, Rangpur continues to show us the characteristics of will and reserve that define quality T20 franchises.

Star Power and Strategic Depth

The Riders have kept the mainstay of their 2024 championship team intact. Wicket-keeper captain Nurul Hasan comes back to captain the team, accompanied by top scorer of the tournament Soumya Sarkar and pace head Kamrul Islam Rabbi. They are supported by a combination of local heroics in Mohammed Naim Sheikh, Yasir Ali, and Abu Haider Rony, each of whom contributes crucial domestic and international experience.

See Also: GSL 2025: Hobart Hurricanes XI announce their squad for upcoming season

The global playing list includes dynamic West Indian opener Kyle Mayers, South African wrist-spinner Tabraiz Shamsi, Afghan batting prodigy Ibrahim Zadran, and experienced Pakistani all-rounder Iftikhar Ahmed. They bring their numbers up in Rangpur's roster with diversity, regional Caribbean experience, and top-level pressure composure.

Their 2025 GSL playing list for the Rangpur Riders includes:
Nurul Hasan Sohan, Soumya Sarkar, Mohammed Naim Sheikh, Mahidul Islam Ankon, Kamrul Islam Rabbi, Mohammed Saif Hassan, Abu Haider Rony, Rakibul Hasan, Yasir Ali Chowdhury, Kyle Mayers, Tabraiz Shamsi, Ibrahim Zadran, Iftikhar Ahmed, Akif Javed, Harmeet Singh, and Khawaja Nafay.

🚨 GSL Update

Rangpur Riders have announced their squad for GSL 2025. Nurul Hasan Sohan will lead the team. Overseas signings include :

Kyle Mayers 🏝️
Tabraiz Shamsi 🇿🇦
Ibrahim Zadran 🇦🇫
Khawaja Nafay 🇵🇰
Iftikhar Ahmad 🇵🇰
Akif Javed 🇵🇰
Harmeet Singh 🇺🇸#GSL2025 pic.twitter.com/NHTbNtqcNk

— T20 Franchise Rosters (Men) (@t20tracker) June 19, 2025

Indian Team lifted the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 after defeating New Zealand in the final at the Dubai International Stadium. The tournament was played in a hybrid format India’s matches, including the semifinal and final, were held in Dubai, while the rest of the games took place in Pakistan across Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi. Meanwhile, the ICC picked Mitchell Santner as the captain of their Team of the Tournament for his brilliant captaincy in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Pakistan, the defending champions and hosts, had a tough time in the tournament, failing to win a single game. They lost their first two matches to New Zealand and India, while their last group-stage game against Bangladesh was abandoned due to rain. Pakistan has a tough time in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

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ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Team of the Tournament

1. Rachin Ravindra (New Zealand)
   Rachin Ravindra had an outstanding tournament, scoring 251 runs at an average of 62.75, including two centuries. His brilliant performances earned him the Player of the Tournament award.

2. Ibrahim Zadran (Afghanistan)
   Ibrahim Zadran was Afghanistan’s standout batter, scoring 216 runs at an average of 72, including a century. Unfortunately, Afghanistan’s journey ended early after their last group-stage match against Australia was washed out.

3. Virat Kohli (India)
   Virat Kohli once again showed his class, scoring an unbeaten century against Pakistan. He finished the tournament with 218 runs at an average of 54.5.

4. Shreyas Iyer (India)
   Shreyas Iyer was solid in India’s middle order, scoring 243 runs at an average of 48.6, with two crucial fifties and helping India to win the Crucial final against New Zealand.

5. KL Rahul (wk) (India)
   KL Rahul made valuable contributions both with the bat and behind the stumps. He scored 140 runs at an incredible average of 140, with his highest score being 42*. His unbeaten knock in the final against New Zealand played a big role in India’s victory.

6. Glenn Phillips (New Zealand)
   Glenn Phillips was one of the best fielders in the tournament, taking five catches. He also contributed with the bat, scoring 177 runs at an average of 59, and even took two wickets.

7. Azmatullah Omarzai (Afghanistan)
   Azmatullah Omarzai was impressive with both bat and ball. He scored 126 runs at an average of 42 and picked up seven wickets, including a brilliant five-wicket haul.

8. Mitchell Santner (c) (New Zealand)
   Mitchell Santner was chosen as the captain after leading New Zealand to the final. He had a solid tournament with the ball, taking nine wickets at an average of 26.6 and an economy rate of 4.80.

9. Mohammed Shami (India)
   Mohammed Shami played a key role in India's bowling attack, picking up nine wickets in the tournament. He made a strong start with a five-wicket haul in India's opening match against Bangladesh.

10. Matt Henry (New Zealand)
    Matt Henry was one of the standout bowlers of the tournament, taking 10 wickets at an average of 16.7 with an economy of 5.32. Unfortunately, he was ruled out of the final beacuse of injury.

11. Varun Chakaravarthy (India)
    Varun Chakaravarthy was one of the brilliant spinners in the tournament. He picked up nine wickets at an average of 15.1 while keeping his economy rate at just 4.53.

    12: Axar Patel (India)
          Axar Patel was among the top all-rounders in the tournament. He took five wickets at an average of 39.2 with an economy of 4.35. He also made valuable                contributions with the bat, scoring 109 runs, including a crucial 29-run knock in the final in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

ICC squad of Champions Trophy

Rachin Ravindra, Ibrahim Zadran, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Glenn Phillips, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mitchell Santner (c), Mohammed Shami, Matt Henry, Varun Chakaravarthy, 12th player: Axar Patel

Champions Trophy 2025 have reached its half way stage where almost we have got our semifinalists team. From Pool B its going to be India and New Zealand and from Pool A its going to be South Africa, but there is one more slot which is empty and there are two contenders who gonna have a virtual quater final. 

Its Australia and Afghanistan who will be fighting for the final spot. Australia have upper hand against Afghanistan but you can't rule out Afghanistan team completely they have given tuff to many big teams and even sended off them too. 

Australia And Afghanistan 2023 Challenge

Both the quality teams are going to face each other today which is going to be a thriller of a contest But before too these two teams faced each other in the 2023 World Cup which happened in India. On the eve of that match, Afghanistan batted first and with the help of Ibrahim Zadran's century Afghanistan was able to post 291 runs with the loss of 5 wickets. Australia got the target of 292 and many thought it would be a cakewalk for Australia. 

Read More: Rohit Sharma Is Cautious About His Injury

But Afghanistan didn't let go of them easily they provided the early breakthrough removing David Warner and Travis Head cheaply. It was game on for Afghanistan where dethroned the wickets of Labhushane and Josh Inglis. But there stood a man named Glenn Maxwell who came in front of them. He would have also been out it wouldn't have been dropped twice on that day he went on to score 201 though he got cramps but didn't leave he showed the sheer resilience that determined the victory for Australia otherwise it would have been an Afghanistan game. 

Revenge Is Sweeter

 Afghanistan wouldn't forgot the wounds that created by Australia 2 years back. It would be the perfect revenge to refrain their wounds. Even Australia hasn't been best of their forms recent times but half side Australia is still to dangerous. Australia have won their first match beating England in a high scoring encounter where Josh Inglis became their main man. 

 Read More: Sachin Tendulkar Praises Afghanistan Team After Their Victory Against England In Champions Trophy

Tomorrow is going to be the testing phase for Australia too as they have the firepower in batting but have issues in bowling their main bowlers Starc, Hazelwood and captain Pat Cummins are injured, so the only known bowler is Adam Zampa. It's going to be an exciting encounter between both the teams having a favourable advantage over them.

Afghanistan Cricket to World:

Afghanistan's incredible surge on the global cricket scene remains an enthralling spectacle. Ever since its ICC tournament debut in 2010, the nation has grown from being an affiliate member to becoming a force to be reckoned with, securing full membership and making it to the knockout stages of big ICC events. They started their journey in ODI cricket with an exciting one-wicket victory against Scotland in the 2015 World Cup. Yet, their memorable performance in the 2023 ODI World Cup formally proclaimed their arrival on the global stage. Afghanistan beat three erstwhile world champions England, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka to achieve a sixth-place finish and gain entry into the ICC Champions Trophy. These wins had catapulted them to a sixth-place position in the rankings, earning them their maiden qualification for the ICC Champions Trophy.

2023 ODI World Cup: The Breakthrough Tournament
In the 2023 ODI World Cup, Afghanistan stunned England with a 69-run win in Delhi, overwhelmed Pakistan by an eight-wicket margin in Chennai, and comprehensively defeated Sri Lanka by seven wickets in Pune. They almost made Australia their victim as well, but Glenn Maxwell's record-breaking double-century single-handedly saved the eventual champions.
Even after that heartbreak, Afghanistan's performances showed they were no longer an underdog team causing the occasional upset but a force to be reckoned with against the best.

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2024 T20 World Cup: Another Step Forward
In the 2024 T20 World Cup, Afghanistan impressed again, thrashing New Zealand by 84 runs and shocking Australia with a 21-run victory.
They thrashed New Zealand by 84 runs in the group stage in Guyana and then shocked Australia with a 21-run victory in Kingstown in the Super Eight stage. Their dream journey ended in the semi-finals when South Africa routed them comprehensively. But in a twist of drama, the Proteas collapsed at the last hurdle once again, throwing away a golden chance to claim their first World Cup by losing to India in the final. Even though their dream run was cut short in the semi-finals, their performances were enough to show that they were no longer an underdog team.

ICC Champions Trophy 2025: A Historic Victory
Afghanistan took the momentum to the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, beating England in a thrilling match. Ibrahim Zadran's stunning 177 and Azmatullah Omarzai's match-winning effort of 5/58 completed the task as Afghanistan put up a strong 325/7 and held England to 317.

Afghanistan: A Force to Be Reckoned With
At each ICC event, Afghanistan revises its cricket narrative, well solidifying the role of being a genuine world-wide threat. Afghanistan is no longer merely that squad famous for doing the upsets; it kills off a couple of world-renowned top-line players repeatedly.