Strongest Afghanistan Playing 11 for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Concluding an eight-year-long wait, the ICC Champions Trophy set into action in Karachi. The first couple of days of the marquee event are set to feature Group A contenders, with the opening fixture between hosts Pakistan and New Zealand. The second match puts the 2013 champions on the stage as they meet Bangladesh in their season-opening clash in Dubai. The focus will finally shift to Group B on the third day of the tournament when South Africa and Afghanistan clash at the National Stadium in Karachi. Initially, when the groups were announced, Group B had a clear champion in the fixture, as Australia was placed along with England, South Africa, and the underdogs, Afghanistan.

Likely Afghanistan Playing 11 for ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Now, with the action at the cusp, the group has turned unpredictable. Australia has taken a mighty injury blow, with all of their primary pacers ruled out of the tournament. The ODI World Cup champions will field a completely transformed lineup, with Steve Smith leading the side. England, meanwhile, is coming off the back of a 3-0 series whitewash at the hands of India recently. In this case, South Africa comes up as the team to look out for from Group B. Moreover, Afghanistan, who have shown their ability to stun the top players in the 2023 championship as well, now have an enhanced chance at semi-final qualification.

Coming to the ICC Champions Trophy, Afghanistan looks in fine form despite losing their young spin sensation Allah Ghazanfar to an injury. The team has won four of the five bilateral series they have played in the format since the World Cup. Their victories include a series win against South Africa in the UAE. However, to match their recent wonders, Afghanistan heavily relies on their batters Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran. Batting up the top, Gurbaz provides the firepower to set the tone. Moreover, the batter has brought refinement to his game, where he plays according to the situation, in contrast to his nature of hitting every ball.

In the bowling department, Afghanistan will count on their skipper, Rashid Khan, to trap the foreign prospects, as has been the story for them for a considerable time now. Though they will miss Ghazanfar in the combination, Rashid has Noor Ahmad as the perfect spin ally. In the pace department, a lot relies on the left-arm pacer, Fazalhaq Farooqi. Beyond Farooqi, the squad features Farid Malik and the regular pace all-rounder, Azmatullah Omarzai.

On paper, and even going by their recent onslaughts, Afghanistan is poised as a significant prospect, able to track a semi-final qualification. However, the team would have to get out of their shell of being the underdogs. Afghanistan, time and again, has shown the ability to topple the champions, from Australia to England to South Africa. However, there is a reason that their victories over most of these sides are still referenced as "upsets." The team tends to fold under pressure, with the stats highlighting their inability to cope with a high chase. The team has managed to complete a sole chase of 300 or above in the ten scenarios that have shaped up.

Moreover, the scene where an injured Maxwell single-handedly led Australia to a successful chase in the ODI World Cup is still fresh in the minds of the fans. The chase, almost insurmountable at one point for Australia, led them to their semi-final qualification, putting Afghanistan out of the race. Now, the underdogs have the chance to avenge that, with Maxwell one of the few senior members available for Australia. Following their tournament opener against South Africa on 21 February, Afghanistan next plays England on 26 February and Australia on 28 February at the group stage.

Predicted Afghanistan Playing XI for ICC Champions Trophy

Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmat Shah, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Naveed Zadran