Australia vs Afghanistan live updates: Champions Trophy 2025
Australia and Afghanistan face off in the 10th match of the Champions Trophy today, February 28th. The winning team will qualify for the semi-finals. If Afghanistan lose, their tournament is over. Similarly, if the Aussies fall short, they will likely fail to qualify due to net run rate. Unless England pull off a miracle, defeating South Africa by a wide margin in their game tomorrow.
Also read: Champions Trophy semi-finals scenario: Australia’s bad luck
Match Information:
The match is taking place at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. There is a 75 per cent chance of light rain. While Australia had a great performance against England, in which they completed a massive chase, scoring 356 runs, they aren’t in a favourable situation. As their game against South Africa was washed out, which seems to be an unfortunate trend for the Aussies at this point, they will likely fail to qualify due to net run rate if they do not win today.
The equation is much simpler for Afghanistan. No net run rate is involved. If they win, they will qualify. If they lose, they won’t. Afghanistan suffered a loss to current Group B table leaders South Africa in their first outing of the tournament, but regrouped for their match against England, which they ended up winning after they put up 325 runs, and got England all out for 317.
The last time Afghanistan and Australia played each other in the ODI format was the 2023 World Cup. Afghanistan looked to be on their way to winning, until a heroic double ton from Glenn Maxwell propelled Australia to completing a comeback.
With both teams having bested England, and semi-final spots on the line, today’s contest is sure to be a thrilling one with everything to play for.
Australia squad: Steven Smith (C), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Matthew Short, Adam Zampa.
Afghanistan squad: Hashmatullah Shahidi (C), Rahmat Shah, Azmatullah Omarzai, Fareed Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Gulbadin Naib, Ibrahim Zadran, Ikram Alikhil, Mohammad Nabi, Nangeyalia Kharote, Naveed Zadran, Noor Ahmad, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rashid Khan, Sediqullah Atal.
Mohammad Nabi run out!
Afghanistan continued to crumble in the 37th over. Soona fter losing Hashmatullah Shahidi, Mohammad Nabi was run out.
Afghanistan stand at 186 for six after 37 overs.
Posted on: February 28, 2025Skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi dismissed!
Adam Zampa took his second wicket in the 36th over, dismissing Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi.
Shahidi attempted a sweep, but Zampa’s delivery took a top edge before heading off to backward square, where Marnus Labuschagne took his second catch of the day.
Afghanistan stand at 176 for five after 35.4 overs.
Posted on: February 28, 2025Sediqullah Atal sent off in 32nd!
Sediqullah Atal was dismissed in the 32nd over after scoring 85 runs off 95 deliveries. Spencer Johnson picked up his second wicket after Atal attempted a drive that sent the ball to cover, where Steven Smith took a low catch.
Afghanistan stand at 161 for four after 32 overs.
Posted on: February 28, 2025Sediqullah Atal makes second ever half century!
Sediqullah Atal brought up his half century in style on the first ball of the 23rd over, smashing a six over deep mid-wicket on a delivery from Glenn Maxwell.
It marked the second 50 of his ODI career.
Atal has made 51 runs off 65 deliveries, hitting four fours and one six along the way.
Afghanistan stand at 113 for three after 23 overs.
Posted on: February 28, 2025Afghanistan pass 100 runs!
Afghanistan passed 100 runs in the 22nd over, largely thanks to Sediullah Atal who has stayed strong as his teammates have fallen.
Atal is closing in on a half century and is currently at 44 runs. Skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi is on the pitch with him and has only scored one run off 15 deliveries thus far.
Afghanistan stand at 101 for three after 22 overs.
Posted on: February 28, 2025Rahmat Shah dismissed in 19th!
Glenn Maxwell took his first wicket of the match in the 19th over, dismissing Rahmat Shah who only managed to make 12 runs off 21 delvieries.
Maxwell’s delivery found the outside edge of Shah’s bat before wicket-keeper Josh Inglis took the catch.
Afghanistan stand at 93 for three after 19 overs.
Posted on: February 28, 2025Ibrahim Zadran dismissed!
Ibrahim Zadran, the man who scored 177 against England, fell in the 14th over to Adam Zampa.
Zadran sliced the delivery from Zampa to backward point where Marnus Labuschagne took the catch. Zadran scored 22 runs off 28 deliveries before being sent off the field.
Afghanistan stand at 71 for two after 14 overs.
Posted on: February 28, 2025A rare encounter
Matches between Australia and Afghanistan are an increasingly rare event, as Australia cite a human rights stance, and have even pledged to suspend bilateral ties, as long as the Taliban remain in power.
However, the two teams do compete against each other at ICC events. The last time the two teams encountered each other was at the 2024 T20 World Cup, during the super eights. Afghanistan won that match as they set a target of 149 runs, before getting Australia all out for just 127. However, the alst time the two teams played in the ODI format was in the 2023 world cup. After a rough start, Australia were able to win thanks to some heroics from Glenn Maxwell.
Afghanistan are looking for revenge. They currently stand at 48 for one after nine over.
Posted on: February 28, 2025Rahmanllah Gurbaz sent off in first over
Gurbaz was dismissed on the penultimate ball of the very first over. It was Spencer Johnson picking up his first wicket of the match, with a 141kph yorker that slid between the bat and pad before smashing into off stump.
Posted on: February 28, 2025Toss, opening comments, and playing XIs
Afghanistan won the toss and chose to bat. Skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi predicts that his spinners will do well on the used pitch. Australia skipper Steve Smith said he would have chosen to field regarldess due ot the weather and dew. He added that it expects a good context.
Afghanistan playing xi: 1 Ibrahim Zadran, 2 Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 3 Sediqullah Atal, 4 Rahmat Shah, 5 Hashmatullah Shahidi (capt), 6 Azmatullah Omarzai, 7 Mohammad Nabi, 8 Gulbadin Naib, 9 Rashid Khan, 10 Noor Ahmad, 11 Fazalhaq Farooqi
Australia playing xi: 1 Travis Head, 2 Matt Short, 3 Steven Smith (capt), 4 Marnus Labuschagne, 5 Josh Inglis (wk), 6 Alex Carey, 7 Glenn Maxwell, 8 Ben Dwarshuis, 9 Nathan Ellis, 10 Adam Zampa, 11 Spencer Johnson
Posted on: February 28, 2025