"We Made Our Nation Happy": Afghanistan Captain on Historic Win:

Lahore: Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi dedicated his team’s thrilling 8-run victory over England in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 to the Afghan people, saying that the players have "made their fans back home happy."

In what was effectively a knockout match, Afghanistan held their nerve in the dying moments as England collapsed in their chase of 326 at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.

This victory now ranks among the closest margin of wins (by runs) in Champions Trophy history, adding another milestone to Afghanistan’s growing cricketing legacy.

Closest Wins in ICC Champions Trophy History (By Runs)

5 runs – India vs England, Edgbaston (2013)
8 runs – Afghanistan vs England, Lahore (2025)
10 runs – India vs South Africa, Colombo RPS (2002)
10 runs – West Indies vs Australia, Brabourne (2006)
10 runs – England vs New Zealand, Cardiff (2013)

Shahidi: "The Whole Nation Will Be Happy With This Win"

An elated Hashmatullah Shahidi praised his team for delivering under pressure and expressed pride in Afghanistan’s continued improvement on the world stage.

"As a team, we are happy. I know the whole nation will be happy with this win. We first beat them in the 2023 World Cup, and I keep saying—we are improving day by day as a team. That’s what we showed in the last couple of World Cups. Today, it was a tense game, but we controlled it well and got the result."

Praise for Ibrahim Zadran & Azmatullah Omarzai

Shahidi singled out Ibrahim Zadran, whose stunning 177-run knock powered Afghanistan to 325/7, calling it "one of the best ODI innings" he has ever seen.

"He’s absolutely brilliant, a talented guy. We were three down early, under too much pressure, but our partnership helped stabilize the innings. It was one of the best ODI innings I have seen."

The captain also applauded all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai, whose 41-run cameo with the bat and five-wicket haul (5/58) turned the game in Afghanistan’s favor.

"Azmat also played well after I got out. He had great intent, scored crucial runs, and with the ball, took wickets when the pressure was on."

"We Take This Momentum Into the Australia Game"

Afghanistan’s next challenge is against Australia, a match that will determine their semi-final fate. Shahidi is confident that this historic win will boost the team’s confidence ahead of their biggest test yet.

"The beauty of our team is that we have talented youngsters as well as experienced players. Everyone knows their role. We will take this momentum into the Australia game. That match will decide if we make the semi-finals, and we will try to control what we can on the field."

Can Afghanistan Reach the Semi-Finals?

Afghanistan’s stunning win over England keeps their knockout dreams alive, but they now face a must-win clash against Australia.

Will they continue their fairytale run and secure a semi-final berth? Stay tuned for what promises to be another thrilling chapter in Afghanistan’s cricketing journey!