Afghanistan and Australia will face each other in their final group-stage match of the Champions Trophy 2025 at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium. This match is a do-or-die encounter for both teams, as their hopes of reaching the semi-finals depend on the outcome of this epic battle.
Australia managed to secure a victory in their opening match of the tournament against England. However, their clash against South Africa was unfortunately washed out due to rain, with not a single ball being bowled. As a result, they now rely on their final group match to advance to the next stage of the tournament.
Meanwhile, despite South Africa’s dominance, Afghanistan outperformed England and kept their semi-final hopes alive. If they succeed in defeating Australia, they will secure their place in the tournament’s semi-finals.
AFG vs AUS Today Match – Gaddafi Stadium Pitch Report
This pitch is expected to be highly favorable for batsmen, as it offers consistent bounce and excellent carry, making aggressive stroke play rewarding. However, fast bowlers might get some assistance with seam movement and swing in the early overs, but this effect is likely to diminish as the game progresses. Once the initial moisture on the pitch dries up, set batsmen will find it easier to score runs.
As the surface dries out, spinners will have a greater impact on the game. Particularly in the later stages of the innings, the pitch is expected to offer turn and extra bounce, which could pose challenges for the batsmen. Additionally, as the pitch slows down, spinners will become even more crucial, with the ball gripping and turning, requiring batsmen to play carefully.
Overall, this could be a high-scoring contest, but as the game progresses, spinners might play a decisive role.
AFG vs AUS Squads
Afghanistan Squad: 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, Fareed Malik, Naveed Zadran.
Australia Squad: Steve Smith (captain), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Matthew Short, Adam Zampa.
