Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi has expressed his team’s determination to capitalize on the expertise of their batting coach, Younis Khan, as they prepare for their crucial ICC Champions Trophy 2025 match against England.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference, Shahidi praised the former Pakistan captain, highlighting his vast experience and deep understanding of the conditions in Pakistan.
“Younis Khan is a legend, and we are trying to benefit from his experience. When he speaks, everyone listens,” Shahidi said. “He has played a lot of cricket in Pakistan, and he knows these pitches and grounds well. We will try to use that knowledge to our advantage.”
Afghanistan, making their debut in the prestigious Champions Trophy, had a disappointing start to their campaign. They suffered a 107-run defeat against South Africa in their opening match.
Reflecting on the loss, Shahidi acknowledged the challenges his team faced, particularly the lack of assistance for their spinners on the Karachi pitch. However, he remained optimistic about the conditions in Lahore, which he believes will better suit Afghanistan’s spin-heavy bowling attack.
“Our spinners didn’t get much help in Karachi, but we are hopeful that conditions in Lahore will be in our favor,” Shahidi stated.
Afghanistan’s path to the semi-finals has become more challenging following the abandonment of the Group B fixture between Australia and South Africa due to rain. With both teams sharing a point, Afghanistan now faces a must-win situation in their remaining group matches against England and Australia.
Despite the uphill battle, Shahidi exuded confidence in his team’s ability to turn things around. “No matter what people say, nothing changes. If we want to reach the semifinals, we have to put in the hard work on the field,” he concluded.