Afghanistan’s rise in international cricket continues to make headlines. In one of the most thrilling matches of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Afghanistan defeated England by eight runs in Lahore. Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar praised their performance and said their victories should no longer be called "upsets."
Tendulkar lauded opener Ibrahim Zadran, who scored a record-breaking 177 off 146 balls, the highest individual score in the tournament’s history. He also praised all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai, who took five wickets and helped Afghanistan secure the win.
"Afghanistan’s steady and consistent rise in international cricket has been inspiring. You can’t term their wins as upsets anymore. They’ve made this a habit now. A superb century by Ibrahim Zadran and a wonderful five-for by Azmatullah Omarzai sealed another memorable win for Afghanistan. Well played!" Tendulkar wrote on X.
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Zadran responded with gratitude, calling Tendulkar an inspiration. "What an honor it is to be praised by the very man who inspired generations to pick up the bat. Your words mean a lot to me and cricket in Afghanistan. Thank you, sir," he wrote on social media.
Afghanistan had been struggling at 37/3 before Zadran built crucial partnerships with captain Hashmatullah Shahidi, Omarzai, and Mohammad Nabi. Omarzai contributed 31 runs before his match-winning bowling performance. His five-wicket haul included the key dismissals of Phil Salt, Jos Buttler, and Joe Root.
England, led by Root’s 120 off 111 balls, was close to chasing the 325-run target but collapsed after his dismissal. Omarzai’s 5/58 sealed Afghanistan’s victory, marking their second win over England in ODI history and their sixth overall in international cricket.
With this victory, Afghanistan remains in contention for the semifinals. Their final group-stage match against Australia on February 28 will decide their fate in the tournament.
