England endured a night to forget as they suffered a shocking defeat against Afghanistan in a must-win Champions Trophy 2025 clash on Wednesday, crashing out of the tournament. Entering the match as overwhelming favourites, England failed to live up to expectations, and their loss has sparked widespread criticism.
Conversely, Afghanistan delivered a spirited performance, showcasing its growing stature in international cricket. Former Indian cricketer Wasim Jaffer wasted no time in playfully trolling ex-England captain Michael Vaughan following the defeat. The two share a friendly rivalry on social media, and Jaffer took to X (formerly Twitter) to check in on Vaughan, posting a viral meme alongside a cheeky caption.
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Wasim Jaffer wrote: “Hope you’re ok @MichaelVaughan , what a game of cricket though! #AFGvENG #ChampionsTrophy”.
Hope you’re ok @MichaelVaughan, what a game of cricket though! #AFGvENG #ChampionsTrophy pic.twitter.com/b9DbzEkqmb
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) February 26, 2025
The star of the night was Ibrahim Zadran, who played a sensational knock of 177 off 146 balls, anchoring Afghanistan’s innings to a formidable 325/7. His masterclass included 12 boundaries and six towering sixes.
Reflecting on his performance, Ibrahim Zadran said, “That 177 is a special moment for me. We played here in the Asia Cup, so I had an idea of the conditions. I wanted to take my time, play proper shots, and it worked. Winning a game like this gives us confidence.”
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Afghanistan still has a chance to qualify for the semifinals, but their final hurdle is a tough one—Australia. While beating the Aussies won’t be easy, Afghanistan cannot be written off. They nearly stunned Australia in the 2023 ODI World Cup in India and will take inspiration from that performance. The high-stakes encounter between Afghanistan and Australia is set for February 28 in Lahore.
