ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Finalists or semi-finalists? Aakash Chopra makes bold prediction for Afghanistan
Published - 08 Feb 2025, 06:16 PM
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Former Indian cricketer and cricket expert Aakash Chopra believes that Afghanistan's strategy for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is clear and simple. Aakash Chopra predicted that the Afghanistan National Cricket Team is set to bowl 40 overs of spin, regardless of the conditions, as their spin attack led by the iconic Rashid Khan is so formidable that no pitch can stop them.
The commentator further said that Afghanistan’s bowling attack, featuring Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Allah Ghazanfar, and Mohammad Nabi, will make the lives of the batters harder in the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025, starting on February 19 in Pakistan.
Aakash Chopra reveals Afghanistan’s strategy for ICC Champions Trophy 2025
The Afghanistan National Cricket Team is slotted into Group B alongside Australia, South Africa, and England for the upcoming prestigious tournament. The Afghan side will kick off their Champions Trophy 2025 campaign against South Africa on February 21 in Karachi.
They will play their remaining group matches against England and Australia on February 26 and 28, respectively, in Lahore. Aakash Chopra said in a video on his YouTube channel, “Their (Afghanistan) strategy is very simple. They will bowl 40 overs of spin.
"No matter how flat a pitch you make, they will do the job considering the quality of spin they have. If you survive against Rashid Khan, you will get stuck against Noor Ahmad. If you survive against Noor, Allah Ghazanfar will catch you, and if you survive there, Mohammad Nabi's experience will come in handy.”
Aakash Chopra predicts Afghanistan will qualify for the semifinals
Meanwhile, Aakash Chopra said that Afghanistan’s batting strategy will be to post competitive totals of around 270-280 runs, and then their bowlers will take charge of the game in the upcoming ICC event. The cricket pundit also predicted that Afghanistan have a great chance to make it to the semifinals in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy.
Chopra added, “They will want 270 to 280-run matches. They won't want 325 to 350-run pitches. Their range will be between 250 and 290, where their batting will do the job, and they won't let you reach there. They have a good chance of making it to the semis. There is a strong possibility.”
Aakash Chopra names his probable Afghan XI for Champions Trophy 2025
On the other hand, Chopra shared his thoughts on Afghanistan's likely playing XI for the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025. The cricket pundit said that Ibrahim Zadran is a technically sound batter and Rahmanullah Gurbaz is also a quality batter who had a remarkable 2024, and they will be his openers.
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Chopra also pointed out that either Rahmat Shah or Sediqullah Atal could be slotted at number three while Hashmatullah Shahidi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, and Gulbadin Naib will form the middle order for the Afghan side at the marquee event.
The former Indian cricketer picked only seamer Fazalhaq Farooqi in Afghanistan’s XI for the tournament, saying, “The team is looking good to me.”
Here’s Aakash Chopra's Afghanistan XI for ICC Champions Trophy 2025:
Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rahmat Shah/Sediqullah Atal, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Allah Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi.
