Former India player turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has said that Afghanistan’s strategy in the 2025 Champions Trophy could be to attack the opposite lineups with their spinners as well. He also said that they could reach the semi-finals on the back of their spin-bowling attack as well.
However, the 2025 Champions Trophy will take place in Pakistan and Dubai from February 19 onwards. Afghanistan are placed in Group B alongside Australia, England, and South Africa, and will play against the Proteas in Karachi and the other two sides in Lahore as well.
ALSO READ: “Aap Lucknow ke naye nawab hain” – Aakash Chopra on Rishabh Pant’s appointment as LSG captain
In a video shared on his YouTube channel ‘Aakash Chopra,’ he said, “Their strategy is very simple. They will bowl 40 overs of spin. No matter how flat a pitch you make, they will do the job considering the quality of spin they have. If you survive against Rashid Khan, you will get stuck against Noor Ahmad. If you survive against Noor, Allah Ghazanfar will catch you, and if you survive there, Mohammad Nabi’s experience will come in handy. They will want 270 to 280-run matches. They won’t want 325 to 350-run pitches. Their range will be between 250 and 290, where their batting will do the job, and they won’t let you reach there. They have a good chance of making it to the semis. There is a strong possibility.”
In the same video, Aakash Chopra also picked Afghanistan’s probable playing XI for Champions Trophy 2025, naming Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz as their openers as well.
“What could be their probable playing XI? Ibrahim Zadran with Rahmanullah Gurbaz, both are quality players. Ibrahim Zadran plays very well technically and Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s last year was very good. After that, you will see either Rahmat Shah or Sediqullah Atal. Then Hashmatullah Shahidi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, and you will have batting till Gulbadin Naib. After that, Rashid Khan. They might play Allah Ghazanfar, and then Noor Ahmad and Fazalhaq Farooqi. The team is looking good to me,” Aakash Chopra concluded.
Aakash Chopra’s probable Afghanistan XI for Champions Trophy 2025:
Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rahmat Shah/Sediqullah Atal, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Allah Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi
