Ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy campaign opener against South Africa, Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi said that the team faces no pressure against Proteas and is here to win the title. Afghanistan will kickstart their ICC Champions Trophy campaign against South Africa at February 21 at Karachi, followed by matches against England (February 26 at Lahore), and Australia (February 28 at Lahore). Speaking ahead of the match as quoted by ESPNCricinfo, Shahidi said that there is a lot of difference between Afghanistan from the year 2019 till now and they have defeated Proteas in an ODI series before the CT2025.

“Because right now we are focusing what we can do in this tournament and I believe that our team is more ready for this tournament and we are focusing on our own team. There is no pressure on us,” he added.

Afghanistan is missing their teenage mystery spinner AM Ghazanfar due to injury, but they still have enough weaponry in form of Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Mohammad Nabi and Nangeylia Kharote. They will also be enjoying a lot of fan support in Karachi.

“First of all, about people here – there are a lot of Afghans. They live here in Karachi and in Pakistan and also a lot of Pashtun people, I think, they support us. So yeah, yesterday there was a lot of crowds shouting for us [during training], and it feels good, and it gives us confidence that we have supporters here and about our performance,” he added.

This will be Shahidi-led Afghanistan’s first Champions Trophy appearance and the captain made it clear they are here to win the title. They have plenty to draw experience from, their sixth spot finish in the 50-over World Cup with four wins and five losses and a semifinal run in the T20 World Cup last year, which saw them beat Test nations like England, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, New Zealand and Australia.

“We are doing very good and, in this tournament, we are here to compete and our aim is to win the final. We are not here just to participate here in this tournament. We are definitely 100 per cent looking to win this event and at the same time because we played a lot of quality cricket from last two years and it is a good chance for us because the boys are very experienced and these conditions are also suitable for us. So we have a good chance and let us start it from tomorrow. Hopefully, we start with the win and we go with the same momentum throughout the tournament,” he added.

Despite having secured a full-member status in June 2017, Afghanistan has not had any dedicated home venue and have played their home matches at UAE, Dehradun, Lucknow and Greater Noida. Shahidi also talked about cricketing facilities and domestic cricket in Afghanistan, expressing hope to play international cricket in Afghanistan in future.

“I have answered this in Pashto but let me say it again because in media I heard a lot from other countries that they [Afghanistan] do not have facilities, they do not have stadiums, they do not have academies. It is totally wrong,” Shahidi said.

We have good facilities. We have cricket academies. We have a High Performance Centre in Kabul and Jalalabad, and also, we have stadiums in every zone of Afghanistan. So, we have the facilities to call a team to come to Afghanistan but in our country there were some security issues that is why other countries are not coming but hopefully soon, as soon as possible, one of the countries will come to Afghanistan and you will see the crowd also.”

“When we play domestic cricket, it is fully packed. Even people wait outside the stadium and try to come and watch the domestic game, like more than 50,000, 40,000 or 30,000 people coming for the finals of an event. I know that if any team come to Afghanistan, there will be like thousands of people, fans come and arrive to the stadium because there is a lot of craze for cricket. There are a lot of people who love cricket. So hopefully that day comes and hopefully it comes soon,” he concluded.

Afghanistan squad for ICC Champions Trophy: Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Ikram Alikhil, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharoti, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Farid Malik, Naveed Zadran. Reserves: Darwish Rasooli, Bilal Sami.

Debutants Afghanistan will aim to continue their impressive rise in white-ball cricket, while South Africa will once again attempt to shed the ‘chokers’ tag when the two sides kick off their Champions Trophy campaign in Karachi on Friday. The inaugural Champions Trophy in 1998, which was called the Knockout Trophy at that time, remains the only ICC men’s senior title that South Africa have secured despite having produced some of the world’s greatest cricketers, especially in limited-overs format. The Proteas boast of a well-balanced squad with a formidable batting lineup.

While skipper Temba Bavuma, Tony de Zorzi, Rassie van der Dussen, and Aiden Markram will anchor the top order, the big-hitting trio of Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller and Tristan Stubbs are well-equipped to provide the final flourish.

South Africa’s biggest challenge heading into the tournament is their depleted bowling attack as key pacers Anrich Nortje, Nandre Burger, and Gerald Coetzee ruled out due to injuries.

Known for his pace, aggression, and the knack of striking at crucial moments, Kagiso Rabada will be the Proteas’ key weapon in both the powerplay and death overs.

Marco Jansen, too, will be expected to step up significantly. His ability to build pressure and deliver impactful spells will be crucial.

Meanwhile, Lungi Ngidi will be looking to rediscover his rhythm and confidence after a below-par showing in the recent tri-series.

In the spin department, Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi will have vital roles.

Since the 2023 ODI World Cup, South Africa have won only four of the 14 ODIs they have played. They enter the tournament on the back of a six-match losing streak.

But one cannot overlook the fact that they were not able to field a full strength team in any of these games due to multiple reasons.

Clubbed alongside an off-colour England, injury-plagued Australia and Afghanistan, South Africa have a good chance of advancing to the knockout stage. But the Afghans could prove to be the proverbial banana peel.

The war-torn nation has emerged as strong contenders to make the semifinals.

Their impressive performances in recent ICC events include dominant wins over England, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka in the 2023 ODI World Cup and reaching the semifinals of the T20 World Cup last year.

They have proved more than once that they are no longer underdogs but a force to be reckoned with.

The Adghans have won four of their five bilateral series since the ODI World Cup, including one against South Africa in the UAE.

Their biggest strength expectedly remains their spin attack comprising the redoubtable Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi and left-armers Noor Ahmad and Nangeyalia Kharote.

They will play all three group matches in Pakistan where spin will be a decisive factor.

Pacer Azmatullah Omarzai has been a key figure in Afghanistan’s ODI success, with his ability to swing the new ball providing them the powerplay edge.

Fazalhaq Farooqi will be another crucial weapon with ability to provide early breakthroughs and effective variations at the death.

In the batting department, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran will once again be expected to provide a solid start.

Their weakness, however, lies in their middle order, which has often struggled to maintain momentum. This inconsistency has been a concern, and addressing it will be crucial for their success in the tournament.

South Africa: Temba Bavuma (c), Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs, Rassie van der Dussen, Corbin Bosch.

Afghanistan: Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Ikram Alikhil, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharoti, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Farid Malik, Naveed Zadran.

Gujarat Titans Schedule IPL 2025: One-time champion Gujarat Titans will be entering the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season under the leadership of newly-appointed India ODI vice-captain Shubman Gill, and aim to return to the playoff stage. After winning in their first season – and reaching two finals in two years – GT could manage only an eighth-place finish in 2024. Gujarat also kept Rashid Khan, B Sai Sudharsan, Rahul Tewatia and Shahrukh Khan in the retentions, and bought big names like Jos Buttler and Kagiso Rabada in the mega auction.

Here is Gujarat Titans’ IPL 2025 schedule in full:

March 25 – GT vs PBKS – Ahmedabad – 7:30 PM

March 29 – GT vs MI – Ahmedabad – 7:30 PM

April 2 – RCB vs GT – Bengaluru – 7:30 PM

April 6 – SRH vs GT – Hyderabad – 7:30 PM

April 9 – GT vs RR – Ahmedabad – 7:30 PM

April 12 – LSG vs GT – Lucknow – 3:30 PM

April 19 – GT vs DC – Ahmedabad – 3:30 PM

April 21 – KKR vs GT – Kolkata – 7:30 PM

April 28 – RR vs GT – Jaipur – 7:30 PM

May 2 – GT vs SRH – Ahmedabad – 7:30 PM

May 6 – MI vs GT – Mumbai – 7:30 PM

May 11 – DC vs GT – Delhi – 7:30 PM

May 14 – GT vs LSG – Ahmedabad – 7:30 PM

May 18 – GT vs CSK – Ahmedabad – 3:30 PM

GT IPL 2025 Squad: Rashid Khan, Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Rahul Tewatia, Shahrukh Khan, Kagiso Rabada (Rs. 10.75 crore), Jos Buttler (Rs. 15.75 crore). Mohammed Siraj (Rs. 12.25 crore), Prasidh Krishna (Rs. 9.50 crore), Nishant Sindhu (Rs. 30 lakh), Mahipal Lomror (Rs. 1.70 crore), Kumar Kushagra (Rs. 65 lakh), Anuj Rawat (Rs. 30 lakh), Manav Suthar (Rs. 30 lakh), Washington Sundar (Rs. 3.20 crore), Gerald Coetzee (Rs. 2.40 crore), Arshad Khan (Rs. 1.30 crore), Gurnoor Brar (Rs. 1.30 crore), Sherfane Rutherford (Rs. 2.60 crore), Sai Kishore (Rs. 2 crore), Ishant Sharma (Rs. 75 lakh), Jayant Yadav (Rs. 75 lakh), Glenn Phillips (Rs. 2 crore), Karim Janat (Rs. 75 lakh), Kulwant Khejroliya (Rs. 30 lakh).

The emergence of T20 cricket has given the sport some fresh greats of the game. Among the modern superstars, Rashid Khan has truly emerged as a game-changer. When it comes to white-ball cricket, the Afghanistan spinner is arguably considered the greatest in modern times, especially in T20 cricket. While comparisons across different eras of the game make it difficult to assess which player has had a greater impact, former Pakistan cricketer Rashid Latif has claimed that Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan is a ‘greater cricketer’ than his country’s own Wasim Akram, the man considered by many as the greatest fast bowler of all time.

The assessment from Latif comes from the point of view that Rashid had a bigger role to play in putting Afghanistan on the global cricketing map in comparison to Wasim who was one of the several superstars in the Pakistan team at that time.

“Rashid has brought Afghanistan on the map, he has helped them get recognition,” he said on Hasna Mana hai show on Geo News. “He is greater than Wasim Akram. I am sorry to say but Rashid’s stature is bigger.”

Rashid, however, hasn’t been able to create as much impact in Test cricket as he has in T20s. The spinner, who plays in T20 leagues across the globe, is among the top wicket-takers, almost in every country he has played in. But, in red-ball cricket, he has struggled to make a name for himself. But, that’s also because of Afghanistan’s weak representation in Tests.

“I have only one piece of advice for Rashid Khan. ‘Improve your Test team and play more Test matches against Pakistan,'” Latif further said.

Rashid and his team will be hoping to create a bigger impact as they play in the ICC Champions Trophy, starting February 19.

Afghanistan squad for Champions Trophy: Hashmatullah Shahidi (capt), Ibrahim Zadran, Ikram Alikhil (wk), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah (vice-capt), Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Fareeh Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Nangeyalia Kharote, Naveed Zadran, Noor Ahmad.

Rohit Sharma was elected as the captain of the ICC T20I Team of the Year for 2024, after leading India to a second T20 World Cup title in the year. Despite poor form in Test cricket, Rohit won his first piece of ICC silverware as India captain, finishing as the second-highest run-scorer of the tournament as well. Three other Indians featured in the ICC XI, in the form of pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh and all-rounder Hardik Pandya. Bumrah was adjudged the Player of the Tournament of the T20 World Cup 2024.

Travis Head was selected to open alongside Rohit Sharma, while Phil Salt was also included in the XI, as the No. 3 batter.

Head amassed 255 runs in seven games at the T20 World Cup, finishing as the third-highest run-scorer. The Australian had a superb 2024, and also made his mark in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Phil Salt hit three T20I centuries in 2024, and found a spot in the ICC XI.

Nicholas Pooran was the highest run-scorer across T20s in 2024, amassing over 2,000 runs, and was chosen as the wicket-keeper in the XI. Pakistan stalwart Babar Azam also found a spot, having scored 738 runs in 23 innings, despite not having the best T20 World Cup.

Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza, India’s Hardik Pandya and Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan were selected as the all-rounders in the team. Pandya was arguably the best all-rounder in the T20 World Cup, while Rashid led Afghanistan to a historic first semi-final.

Bumrah had a phenomenal T20 World Cup 2024, picking up 15 wickets, while Arshdeep was the leading wicket-taker of the tournament with 17. The latter picked up 36 wickets in 18 games in 2024.

Alongside Rashid Khan, Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga was selected as the other spinner in the ICC T20I Team of the Year.

ICC T20I Team of the Year 2024: Rohit Sharma (c), Travis Head, Phil Salt, Babar Azam, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Sikandar Raza, Hardik Pandya, Rashid Khan, Wanindu Hasaranga, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh.

Star leg spinner Rashid Khan took his seventh wicket of the innings as Afghanistan speedily wrapped up a 72-run victory over Zimbabwe on Monday to win the two-Test series. Zimbabwe were 205-8 overnight with captain Craig Ervine unbeaten on 53 and needing 73 more runs to win the Test at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo after a drawn first Test. But the home team failed to add a run and Afghanistan needed just 15 deliveries to seal a first Test win since beating Zimbabwe in Abu Dhabi four years ago.

Richard Ngarava was run out for three, then man of the match Khan (7-66) added to his six-wicket haul on Sunday by trapping Ervine leg before.

Ervine was the top Zimbabwe scorer with his 103-ball knock including a six and four fours.

Khan tormented Zimbabwe throughout a match interrupted several times by rain, taking four first-innings wickets as well.

The 26-year-old deflected attention from himself after receiving the player of the match award, praising second-innings centurions Rahmat Shah (139) — who was named player of the series — and debutant Ismat Alam (101) instead.

“The way they performed second time round got us back into the match,” he said, referring to the 86-run deficit the tourists faced after the first innings.

“The way Ismat shrugged off the disappointment of being out for nought in his first innings was amazing. He was hurt during the second innings, but carried on for the sake of his country.

“I am recovering from back surgery so taking 11 wickets was very encouraging. It was all about adapting to the conditions, which initially favoured the bowlers, then the batters.”

Brief scores

Afghanistan 157 (Rashid Khan 25; S. Raza 3-30, N. Nyamhuri 3-42) and 363 in 113.5 overs (Rahmat Shah 139, Ismat Alam 101; B. Muzarabani 6-95, R. Ngarava 3-76) v Zimbabwe 243 (C. Ervine 75, S. Raza 61, S. Williams 49; Rashid Khan 4-94, Yamin Ahmadzai 3-62) and 205 in 68.3 overs (S. Ervine 53, B. Curran 38, S. Raza 38; Rashid Khan 7-66)

Result: Afghanistan won by 72 runs

Toss: Zimbabwe

ZIM v AFG 3rd ODI LIVE Scorecard© AFP

ZIM vs AFG Live Scorecard 2nd ODI© AFP

Star Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan is set to play his first Test match since March 2021 as the Afghanistan Cricket Board on Monday announced the squad for the two-match Test series against Zimbabwe at Bulawayo. Rashid hasn’t played red-ball cricket for his country since he took on Zimbabwe in Abu Dhabi in March 2021, but the 26-year-old is set to return against the same opposition after he was included in an 18-player squad for the series that commences on December 26.

While a veteran of more than 200 white-ball matches for Afghanistan, Rashid has played just five Tests throughout his distinguished career for a total of 34 wickets at an average of 22.35.

Rashid’s return highlights an Afghanistan squad that features seven uncapped players, with top-order batter Sediqullah Atal, fast bowling all-rounder Ismat Alam and left-arm spinner Zahir Shehzad among those aiming to win a first Test cap in Africa.

Afghanistan interim chief selector Ahmad Shah Sulimankhil was thrilled to welcome Rashid back to the Test fold and believes the squad are well-placed to perform with aplomb against Zimbabwe.

“Rashid Khan returns to the Test squad, which is a promising sign for our red ball game going forward. The rest of the team underwent good preparations recently in Nangarhar province, which featured 19 players and all the support staff to work with the players and ensure full preparation for the series,” Ahmad Shah said as quoted by the ICC.

“We have thoroughly monitored the proceedings and have picked the squad which includes several new faces, including Ismat Alam, Bashir Ahmad, and Zahir Shehzad, who have performed well during the recent Ahmad Shah Abdali FC Tournament,” the selector added.

Series schedule:

First Test: December 26-30, Bulawayo.

Second Test: January 2-6, Bulawayo.

Afghanistan Test squad: Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmat Shah (vc), Ikram Alikhail (wk), Afsar Zazai (wk), Riaz Hassan, Sediqullah Atal, Abdul Malik, Baheer Shah Mahboob, Ismat Alam, Azmatullah Omarzai, Zahir Khan, Zia Ur Rehman Akbar, Zahir Shehzad, Rashid Khan, Yamin Ahmadzai, Bashir Ahmad Afghan, Naveed Zadran, Fareed Ahmad Malik.

Reserves: Nasir Jamal, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, Ibrahim Abdulrahimzai.

Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan 3rd T20I, Live Score Updates© X (Twitter)