ICC Champions Trophy 2025 - Match 8 (Group B) - Afghanistan vs England - Cricket Betting Tips and Match Predictions - February 26

Here are the Fantasy Cricket Predictions and Betting Tips for the ICC Champions Trophy, Match 8 (Group B) - Afghanistan vs England, to be played on the 26th of February at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.

LIVE SCORES - Match 8 (Group B) - Afghanistan vs England (Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore)

Current Form Afghanistan:

Afghanistan are currently placed at the bottom most position on Group B points table with 1 loss to their credit.

The top run scorer for Afghanistan in the Champions Trophy is Rahmat Shah with 90 runs to his name.

The top wicket taker for Afghanistan in the Champions Trophy is Mohammad Nabi with 2 scalps under his belt.

Afghanistan have lost their first match of the Champions Trophy against South Africa by 107 runs.

South Africa batted first and they posted a total of 315 for 6 in 50 overs. Ryan Rickelton and Temba Bavuma played really well. They scored 103 and 58 runs respectively to lay the foundation for a big total. Rassie van der Dussen and Aiden Markram also played vital knocks of 52 runs each to help South Africa get past the 300 run mark as they finished at 315 in their innings.

During the chase, Afghanistan lost 3 early wickets and looked to be in deep waters right from the word go. Rahmat Shah fought like a lone warrior and scored 90 runs but wickets kept falling around him in regular succession and he couldn't do much for Afghanistan as they were eventually bowled out for 208, losing the match by a huge margin of 107 runs.

Current Form England:

England are currently placed at the 3rd position on Group B points table with 1 loss to their credit.

The top run scorer for England in the Champions Trophy is Ben Duckett with 165 runs to his name.

The top wicket taker for England in the Champions Trophy is Adil Rashid with 1 scalp under his belt.

England have lost their first game of the Champions Trophy against Australia by 5 wickets.

England batted first and they posted a total of 351 for 8 in 50 overs. Philip Salt and Jamie Smith got out without troubling the scorers much. After their dismissals, Ben Duckett and Joe Root were involved in a partnership of 158 runs for the 3rd wicket. Jos Buttler, Harry Brook and Liam Livingstone all failed to get going but Ben Duckett kept finding gaps at ease. He scored 165 runs off 143 balls to help England get to a tall total of 351 in their innings.

During the chase, Australia couldn't get off to an ideal start, losing their key batters Steven Smith and Travis Head cheaply. After their dismissals, Matthew Short and Marnus Labuschagne were involved in an important partnership of 95 runs for the 3rd wicket. Short and Labuschagne got out in quick succession but Josh Inglis then took the responsibility of taking Australia over the line. Along with Alex Carey, he took the English bowlers on and kept finding boundaries in regular intervals. Carey made 69 while Inglis smashed 120 runs to win the game for Australia in the 48th over with 5 wickets in hand.

Let's have a look at the squads:

Afghanistan

Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Ikram Alikhil, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharoti, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Farid Malik, Naveed Zadran

England

Jos Buttler (captain), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Tom Banton, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Jamie Smith, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Saqib Mahmood, Phil Salt, Mark Wood

Cricket Betting Tips and Match Predictions* - PrePlay

Who will win the toss? – Afghanistan

Who will win?- Afghanistan

Top Batter (Runs Scored) - Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Afghanistan), Joe Root (England)

Top Bowler (Wickets taken) - Rashid Khan (Afghanistan), Adil Rashid (England)

Most Sixes – Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Afghanistan), Joe Root (England)

Player of the Match- Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Afghanistan)

Team Scores Batting first – England 305+, Afghanistan 315+

Match Handicap: Afghanistan

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*NB these predictions may be changed nearer the start of the match once the final starting teams have been announced and we will be running ‘In-Play’ features, so stay tuned.

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