AFG vs ENG Match Prediction & Analysis
One of the great features of the ICC Champions Trophy is that teams do not have to wait long for their next fixture but lose a couple in a row and you are more than likely to be heading home!
That will be in the minds of both the Afghanistan and England players ahead of this match after they were beaten by South Africa and Australia on Friday and Saturday respectively.
Although both suffered losses, Afghanistan were the least competitive, seemingly heading for defeat from the end of the first over, whereas England did at least post 350 in the first innings but still saw Australia knock the runs off with 15 balls to spare.
It really is a must-win game with neither side wanting to face the consequences of a second successive defeat.TEAMS PREVIEW
Afghanistan Preview
There are plenty of areas for improvement for Afghanistan ahead of this game with only batter Rahmat Shah and bowling all-rounder Mohammad Nabi able to hold their heads up high after the performance against South Africa.
The losing margin was 107 runs but it would certainly have been a lot wider if Nabi had not taken 2/51, while being the most economical of the bowling attack, and Rahmat had not struck 90 of Afghanistan’s 208 all out.
Fortunately for Jonathan Trott’s side, there are plenty of accomplished players in this team and he will be looking at the opening pair of Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran at the top of the order with Rashid Khan’s spin a big threat along that of Nabi’s.
Equally, Afghanistan will be reminding themselves of the last time they took on England and emerged with a comfortable 69 run victory!
Afghanistan Predicted Playing XI:
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq FarooqiAfghanistan Actual Playing XI:
Hashmatullah Shahidi, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Noor Ahmad
England Preview
There will be one forced change for England ahead of this game as Brydon Carse will miss the rest of the tournament and has been replaced in the squad by spinner Rehan Ahmed. Unfortunately for the latter though, he is not expected to arrive in Lahore until after this game has begun so it is thought that Jamie Overton will come in as a like for like replacement.
Although England fell to another ODI defeat, and another in Asia at that, there were two major positives with the bat as Ben Duckett struck his career best 165 from 143 balls and Joe Root played the anchor role with 68 runs from 78 balls.
England need a score from captain Jos Buttler and he will be looking to end a torrid run of returns against Afghanistan,
With the ball, all of the six man bowling attack, bar Joe Root, took a wicket against Australia and Buttler looks likely to be very reliant on the accuracy of Adil Rashid once again.
England Predicted Playing XI:
Phil Salt, Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith (wk), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (c), Liam Livingstone, Jamie Overton, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark WoodEngland Actual Playing XI:
Harry Brook, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Liam Livingstone, Jamie Overton, Philip Salt, Mark Wood, Adil Rashid, Jofra Archer, Jamie Smith, Jos ButtlerWeather Conditions
No rain is forecast during the match on Wednesday but it will be a predominantly cloudy day-night fixture. Humidity will also come into consideration with dew likely to be a factor during the final 20 overs.
AFG vs ENG Pitch Report
Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore Pitch Report
Pitch ConditionBatting
Batting ConditionsHigh Scoring
Pace BowlingPace Bounce
Spin BowlingAverage Turn
Both England and Australia showed that this is a good batting wicket on Saturday and we expect whoever bats first to be looking to post a score of at least 330 on this pitch.
Toss: To Bowl
Teams chasing have had the most success across recent ODIs in Lahore so we predict that both captains will choose to bowl first should they win the toss ahead of the game.
