Afghanistan’s rise in the world of cricket seems almost fictional. Success stories like theirs are usually only confined to fables because, in the real world, you don’t make it to the summit as quickly as they did. This will be their first-ever appearance in the Champions Trophy, but you have been warned, they ought not to be taken lightly. If, in less than 20 days, you find Afghanistan securing a place in the semi-finals, don’t be surprised. They are no longer just underdogs, they are here to win it.

And they have every reason to believe they can. For one, they come prepared, perhaps more than any other team. Since the conclusion of the ICC ODI World Cup in 2023, Afghanistan have played more ODI games than any other participating nation. What’s more, they have defeated teams like South Africa and Bangladesh recently, which is enough to reinforce that they are entering the tournament in some form. 

But the way ahead will not be easy for Afghanistan. They find themselves in the same group as Australia, England, and South Africa. While none of them know the sub-continent conditions as well as Afghanistan, there is a catch: they might not be as familiar with conditions in Pakistan. Barring two ODI games they played in Pakistan in Asia Cup 2023, Afghanistan do not have any experience with conditions in the country. And in a tournament, where fine margins will hold the greatest significance, that unfamiliarity could be their biggest hurdle. 

Form Overview

The fact that Afghanistan are playing the Champions Trophy while a team like Sri Lanka sits it out tells a lot about their recent form in the format. During the ODI World Cup in 2023, they were a force to be reckoned with—so much so that it took a dynamic, once-in-a-lifetime performance by Australia to halt them. Since the World Cup, they have played 18 one-day games and boast a win-to-loss ratio less only than Pakistan and New Zealand. 

Strength & Concerns:

As shown in the table, there are many reds, far more than one would find in a typical team. That very factor has been the reason behind Afghanistan’s dominance in world cricket. However, this advantage largely stems from the number of all-rounders in their squad. Almost everyone on the team is a makeshift all-rounder. Everyone means everyone, even their regular wicket-keeper, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, has had a go with the ball in a recent game.

There’s more to Afghanistan’s all-rounder fad. Name any kind of all-rounder to exist on this planet, and you would find a similar in the Afghanistan team. And what’s more, they know how to do their job very well. Take Azmatullah Omarzai as an example. Need wickets? He is your guy. Short of some impactful runs? He’s got you covered. So, while players like Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, and Fazalhaq Farooqi strengthen the bowling lineup tremendously, their ability to swing for some runs when needed makes Afghanistan one of the best batting teams. 

But is everything really that settled for them? Obviously, no. They have concerns, and very serious ones at that. One of those is their subpar fast-bowling prowess, especially when compared to the quality of spinners they have. Their fast bowling attack lacks depth as well as potency. Of all teams participating in the Champions Trophy, Afghanistan have second worse fast bowling average since the ODI World Cup. On Pakistan’s somewhat docile pitches, this could hurt them big time. 

Schedule:

21 February – vs South Africa, Karachi
26 February – vs England, Lahore
28 February – vs Australia, Lahore