February 27, 2025 – Cricket lovers were treated to an evening of raw euphoria yesterday after Afghanistan brought alive the memories of the 2023 World Cup ODI match in Delhi. Back then it gave England a resounding and historic 69-run defeat and earned the reputation of being the game’s ultimate disruptors. Playing the ICC Champions Trophy match against England at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Afghanistan yesterday once again called the shots and sent Jos Butler and his men packing… and out of the tournament.

This was England's fifth straight loss in ODIs, after losing all three ODIs to India.

The Afghan team’s thrilling eight-run victory proved once again that these guys are an explosive unit… mentally tough and turbocharged.

Yesterday’s game was power packed and a display of sheer confidence and class. The Afghans stunned England in all sections of the game - bat and ball and fielding.

All-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai, the team’s 24-year-old all-rounder, who started his journey from street cricket, played a crucial role in his team’s victory. He not only scored a valuable 41 runs off 31 balls but took five important wickets, including those of key players like Jos Buttler and Joe Root, giving the breakthrough whenever needed.

Opting to bat first, Afghanistan were at one point reeling at 37 for 3 in the ninth over but went on to make 325/7. The pivotal 103-run partnership between skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi and Ibrahim Zadran steadied the team before a thrilling acceleration with Zadran launching into the English attack and hitting a record 177 runs from 146 balls.

Zadran’s onslaught is the highest in the Champions Trophy history, going past the 165 by English player Ben Duckett against Australia in England’s opener in this tournament itself. Zadran also broke his own record for Afghanistan's highest individual ODI score.

Considering the team was playing under the cloud of boycott calls from around 160 British politicians over the “suppression of women” in the Taliban-ruled country, the Afghan boys kept their heads down and gave a befitting reply with their game!