England Crumble as Ibrahim Zadran and Omarzai Script an Unforgettable Triumph

Lahore, February 26, 2025 – Afghanistan pulled off one of the greatest upsets in cricket history, knocking England out of the ICC Champions Trophy with a thrilling eight-run victory at the Gaddafi Stadium. This historic win cements Afghanistan’s rise as a formidable force in world cricket while raising serious questions about England’s declining fortunes in white-ball cricket.

Zadran’s Masterclass: A Knock for the Ages

After winning the toss and electing to bat, Afghanistan found themselves in early trouble as Jofra Archer’s fiery opening spell had them reeling at 37 for 3. However, opener Ibrahim Zadran stood like a rock, absorbing the pressure and then launching a breathtaking counterattack.

Zadran played the innings of his life, smashing 177 runs off 146 balls, the highest individual score in the tournament’s history. His elegant stroke play, combined with aggressive hitting in the latter overs, left the English bowlers clueless. With support from skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi (40 off 56) and a quickfire cameo from Azmatullah Omarzai (41 off 28), Afghanistan posted a daunting 325/7.

“It was a dream innings. I just wanted to take it deep, and thankfully, everything worked out,” Zadran said after being named Player of the Match.

England’s Chase: Root Fights Alone, But Falls Short

Chasing 326, England needed a strong start, but their top order crumbled under pressure. While Joe Root played a magnificent 120 off 111 balls, his first ODI century in over five years, the rest of the batting lineup failed to step up.

Captain Jos Buttler (38 off 35) tried to rebuild, but once he fell, the required rate kept climbing. The lower order collapsed spectacularly, and despite some late fireworks from Sam Curran (29 off 18), England were bowled out for 317 in 49.5 overs, falling just eight runs short.

“We didn’t execute our plans, especially at the death,” Buttler admitted in the post-match conference. “We had opportunities, but credit to Afghanistan, they deserved the win.”

Azmatullah Omarzai: The Game-Changer

While Zadran’s heroics grabbed the headlines, Azmatullah Omarzai’s all-round brilliance played a pivotal role in Afghanistan’s triumph. Not only did he provide a crucial late flourish with the bat, but he also delivered a match-winning spell of 5/58, including the key wicket of Buttler.

His pinpoint yorkers and deceptive variations dismantled England’s middle and lower order, sealing Afghanistan’s biggest-ever victory on the global stage.

England’s Champions Trophy Nightmare

This defeat marks another major tournament disaster for England, following their disastrous 2023 ODI World Cup campaign and their early exit from the 2024 T20 World Cup.

Former England captain Nasser Hussain called the loss “embarrassing” and suggested that Buttler’s captaincy could be in jeopardy. “England were the best white-ball side a few years ago. Now, they look lost,” he said in a post-match analysis.

Afghanistan’s Rise: No Longer Underdogs

For Afghanistan, this victory is more than just a group-stage win – it’s a statement. They have now defeated top-tier teams in multiple ICC tournaments, proving that their cricketing revolution is here to stay.

“It’s a proud moment for us, but we’re not stopping here,” said Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi. “We believe we can go all the way.”

With England heading home, Afghanistan now turn their sights to their next challenge. If they keep playing like this, the fairytale might just continue.