Complete In-Depth Match Analysis AFG vs AUS
Delhi – 27/02/2025
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is getting really excited after Afghanistan defeated England in the 8th match of the tournament. Afghanistan (AFG) and Australia (AUS) will play a crucial match of the Group Stage at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on the 28th of February. Both teams are looking to get a spot in the semi-final, this match of Australia vs Afghanistan – AFG vs AUS is like a knockout match and also not less than a quarter-final for both teams. Australia will definitely take Afghanistan seriously after watching the last match’s result of the AFG vs ENG match.
Match Details of Australia vs Afghanistan
| Match | Afghanistan vs Australia, Match 10 |
| Venue | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore |
| Date & Time | Friday, 28TH February, 2:30 PM (IST) |
| Live Streaming | JioHotstar (App & Website), Star Sports Network |
Match Preview
Australia has started their campaign with a record-breaking chase against England but Australia’s second game against South Africa was washed out due to rain. So now, a victory over Afghanistan will confirm their semi-final spot, and if they lose this match against Afghanistan, then Afghanistan will qualify for the semi-finals.
On the other hand, Afghanistan created history by knocking England out of the competition of semi-final with a thrilling eight-runs win. Afghanistan is now aiming to beat the Aussies and book their first-ever Champions Trophy semi-final spot. While Australia holds a 4-0 record over Afghanistan in ODIs, the Afghans shocked them in the 2024 T20I World Cup by defeating them in a T20I match in that World Cup tournament, proving they are not noobs.
Probable Playing XIs for AFG vs AUS
Afghanistan‘s Probable Playing XI
| Position | Player |
| WK | Rahmanullah Gurbaz |
| Batter | Ibrahim Zadran |
| Batter | Sediqullah Atal |
| Batter | Rahmat Shah |
| Captain | Hashmatullah Shahidi (c) |
| All-rounder | Azmatullah Omarzai |
| All-rounder | Mohammad Nabi |
| All-rounder | Gulbadin Naib |
| Bowler | Rashid Khan |
| Bowler | Noor Ahmad |
| Bowler | Fazalhaq Farooqi |
Australia’s Probable Playing XI
| Position | Player |
| Batter | Matthew Short |
| Batter | Travis Head |
| Captain | Steven Smith (c) |
| Batter | Marnus Labuschagne |
| WK | Josh Inglis |
| WK | Alex Carey |
| All-rounder | Glenn Maxwell |
| Bowler | Ben Dwarshuis |
| Bowler | Nathan Ellis |
| Bowler | Adam Zampa |
| Bowler | Spencer Johnson |
Key Players to Watch in AFG vs AUS
Ibrahim Zadran (AFG): The Afghan opener has been in exceptional form, scoring a century against England in the last game, where he scored 177 runs. His performance will be crucial against Australia’s bowling attack.
Azmatullah Omarzai (AFG): The fast-bowling all-rounder stopped England from chasing down the target with his five-wicket haul. His performance with the ball will be crucial.
Glenn Maxwell (AUS): Known for his consistent performances against Afghanistan, Maxwell has scored a double-century in the 2023 World Cup and a crucial fifty in the 2024 T20 World Cup against them.
against Afghanistan in ICC World Cup 2024.
Adam Zampa (AUS): On Lahore’s turning pitch, Zampa can be a game-changer for Australia in the middle overs, and if he gets turned from the wicket then he will be more dangerous against Afghanistan.
Head-to-Head in ODIs
| Matches Played | Afghanistan Won | Australia Won |
| 4 | 0 | 4 |
The last ODI match played between these two teams was in the 2023 World Cup, where Glenn Maxwell’s heroic double-century snatched victory from Afghanistan’s grip. However, Afghanistan has gained some momentum after that match which may help Afghan to break their ODI losing streak against the Aussies.
Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore Pitch Report of Last Two Matches:
Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore has recently seen high-scoring matches which shows that it’s a batting-friendly pitch. Here’s a summary of the last two matches:
- February 22, 2025: Australia vs England
England’s Innings: 351/8 in 50 overs
Australia’s Innings: 356/5 in 47.3 overs
Result: Australia won by 5 wickets
Pitch Analysis: The pitch had excellent support for batsmen in that match, and both teams managed to score above 350 runs. Bowlers had faced challenges due to minimal assistance from the pitch for both pace and spin bowlers.
- February 10, 2025: New Zealand vs South Africa
South Africa’s Innings: 304/6 in 50 overs
New Zealand’s Innings: 308/4 in 48.4 overs
Result: New Zealand won by 6 wickets
Pitch Analysis: The pitch was good for batsmen in that match, where both sides were managed to score above 300 runs. Bowlers had almost no assistance from the pitch during that match.
So, the recent matches played at Gaddafi Stadium show its reputation as a great venue for batsmen, as the last two games had 300-plus runs by all four teams, with high first-inning scores and successful chases by the opposition batting second.
Pitch Report for AFG vs AUS
| Factor | Details |
| Pitch Nature | Batting-friendly with good bounce and pace |
| Assistance for Bowlers | Spinners may get help as the game progresses |
| Average First Innings Score | 256 Runs |
| Toss Impact | Chasing teams have won 36 out of 76 ODIs played at this venue |
Weather Report of Gaddafi Cricket Stadium, Lahore of the Past Three Days
| Date | Max Temp | Min Temp | Conditions | Rainfall | Humidity |
| Feb 24, 2025 | 28.5°C | 15.5°C | Sunny | 0.0 mm | 32% |
| Feb 25, 2025 | 25.0°C | 17.0°C | Partly Cloudy | 0.0 mm | 47% |
| Feb 26, 2025 | 28.0°C | 18.0°C | Patchy Rain Possible | 1.4 mm | 80% |
Check the Live Weather Report of Gaddafi Cricket Stadium from Here
Afghanistan vs Australia Match Prediction
| Scenario | First Innings Score | Winner Prediction |
| If Afghanistan Bats First | 280-290 | Australia to win by 5 wickets |
| If Australia Bats First | 325-335 | Australia to win by 30-40 runs |
Afghanistan will rely more on their batting performance and spin attack to challenge Australia. However, the Aussies experienced and balanced squad makes them the favorites to secure a semi-final spot.
Also Read:
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India is Getting an Unfair Advantage in the Champions Trophy: Says Pat Cummins
Records of ICC Champions Trophy: Records that could be broken this year in 2025
Stay tuned with Cricket Zon for an update about this electrifying contest as both teams will try to give there best for a spot in the Champions Trophy 2025 semi-finals.
Article by: Md Imran (Cricket Zon)
