Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar was over the moon after Afghanistan knocked out England from ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Shahidi and cc. clinched a thrilling 8-run win over the 2019 ODI World Cup defending champions to keep their hopes of making it to the semis alive. The Rawalpindi Express, who has been very critical of his own country Pakistan’s performance, heaped praise of Afghanistan and wished that they go on to win the CT 2025.
When Akhtar told Afghanistan to not spare England, Australia
In a video on his Instagram account, Akhtar revealed how he told Gulbadin Naib that Afghanistan shouldn’t spare England or Australia. The former pacer heaped praise on the side for overcoming all the odds, including lack of infrastructure back at home, to slay a giant like England. He said that Afghanistan must focus on winning against Australia in their next fixture to avoid a repeat of what happened in the 2023 ODI World Cup.
“Congratulations Afghanistan, very happy for you! I remember telling Gulbadin ‘please defeat England’, he said that ‘don’t worry brother, we will not spare them.’ I told him you shouldn’t spare Australia either. I was in Dubai when I told Gulbadin that you should win at any cost. You have made Afghanistan very proud today. Now you have the maturity and you know how to play cricket. You have slayed a big team. Enjoy this day, but do not forget that you are going to play beyond the semi-final,” Akhtar said.
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“I did not want to see a repeat of what Australia did to you. You are in the most difficult group which has South Africa, England and Australia. What a match you played! Thank you so much for putting up a great show for us,” Akhtar added.
Afghanistan will next take on Australia in their final group stage fixture of Champions Trophy on February 28. Ibrahim Zadaran (177) became the first Afghan batter to slam a century for the country in a Champions Trophy event, that too in their maiden one. Meanwhile, Azmatullah Omerzai sizzled with a five-wicket haul to hand England a red-faced defeat that saw them being sent packing from the tournament.
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