Afghanistan and Australia are set to battle in a do-or-die encounter at the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Lahore on Friday, with a semi-final spot at stake. The stakes couldn’t be higher — victory will virtually guarantee a place in the last four, while defeat could spell elimination, depending on the outcome of England’s clash with South Africa.
Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne acknowledged the significance of the fixture and stressed the need for every player to step up.
Going into tomorrow’s game, we’ve all got to be ready to perform. It doesn’t matter if you’re young or a senior player—we have to put a good score on the board or chase down the total.
Labuschagne said
With only one completed match in the tournament so far, the Australians will be wary of Afghanistan’s challenge.
Josh Inglis played amazingly with Alex Carey, Matt Short batted beautifully at the start, and different partnerships made that game. We don’t know who’s going to step up tomorrow, but we all have to be ready.
Labuschagne pointed out how different players had contributed in their first game, adding
Afghanistan Confident After Historic Win Over England
Afghanistan’s morale is sky-high following their stunning victory over England, which kept their semi-final dreams alive. Skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi is relishing the challenge.
A win like this boosts confidence. We came here to play good cricket, and any team we face, we accept the challenge," he said. "Australia is a tough team, but just as we beat England, we hope to beat them too.
Shahidi said
With a well-balanced side, Afghanistan will once again look to Ibrahim Zadran, who scripted history with a record-breaking 177 against England — the highest individual score in Champions Trophy history. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Shahidi provide stability, while Rashid Khan leads a lethal spin attack.
Afghan people always cheer for us. Wherever we play, they come to the stadiums, and millions watch back home. Their support drives us forward.
Shahidi is also banking on the unwavering support of Afghan fans
Rain Could Influence Semi-Final Scenarios
The looming threat of rain could complicate qualification scenarios. If the match is washed out, Australia will advance to the semi-finals due to their superior net run rate, leaving Afghanistan hoping for an unlikely outcome where England thrash South Africa by a huge margin.
As players, we always want to play. If rain washes out the game, we go through, but we want to win and finish top of the pool. That’s our goal.
Labuschagne, however, is clear about his preference
For Afghanistan, the equation is simple — win, and they secure a historic semi-final berth. A loss would leave them in a precarious position, relying on England to pull off an improbable victory over South Africa.
As two teams fight for survival, Friday’s clash promises to be a gripping encounter — one that could define the future of both sides in the tournament.
Squads:
Australia: Matthew Short, Travis Head, Steven Smith(c), Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis(w), Alex Carey, Glenn Maxwell, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Spencer Johnson, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Sean Abbott, Tanveer Sangha.
Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi(c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Ikram Alikhil, Nangeyalia Kharote, Naveed Zadran.