Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi has made it clear that his team is focused on delivering a strong performance in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 clash against England, scheduled to be played in Lahore on 26 February.
Reflecting on Afghanistan’s famous win over England in the 2023 ODI World Cup, Shahidi acknowledged the significance of that match but stressed that it’s now a thing of the past.
“We played a great game against England in 2023, but that is history now. We will take the field with a fresh mindset and new preparations,” he stated.
With discussions around Afghanistan’s semifinal chances heating up, Shahidi dismissed any external noise, asserting that only performance on the field will determine their fate.
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“No matter what people say, nothing changes. If we want to reach the semifinals, we have to put in the hard work on the field,” he added.
Hashmatullah Shahidi admitted that the conditions in Karachi did not favour their spinners. However, he remains hopeful that the Lahore pitch will offer more assistance.
“Our spinners didn’t get much help in Karachi, but we are hopeful that conditions in Lahore will be in our favour,” he said.
Afghanistan’s coaching setup includes Pakistan legend Younis Khan, and Shahidi highlighted the immense value his presence brings to the team.
“Younis Khan is a legend, and we are trying to benefit from his experience. When he speaks, everyone listens,” Shahidi remarked.
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The Afghan captain believes Younis’ deep understanding of Pakistan’s pitches and conditions can be a game-changer for the team.
“He has played a lot of cricket in Pakistan, and he knows these pitches and grounds well. We will try to use that knowledge to our advantage,” he added.
Looking ahead to the England game, Shahidi expressed confidence in his batting unit, reminding everyone that Afghanistan’s lineup has shown its strength in the past.
“If we look at the past, our team has put up strong batting performances. I believe we still have a solid batting lineup,” he concluded.
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