Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi has expressed confidence ahead of his team’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 opener against South Africa, stating that there is no pressure on his side and that they are aiming to win the title. Afghanistan will begin their campaign against the Proteas on February 21 in Karachi, followed by matches against England on February 26 and Australia on February 28 in Lahore.
Speaking to ESPNCricinfo before the tournament, Shahidi highlighted Afghanistan’s progress over the years and their previous victory against South Africa in an ODI series, which boosts their confidence heading into the tournament. He emphasized that the team is fully prepared and focused on their own game rather than external factors.
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“Right now, we are focusing on what we can do in this tournament. I believe our team is more ready, and we are not under any pressure,” Shahidi stated.
Afghanistan will be missing their young mystery spinner AM Ghazanfar due to injury, but they still boast a strong spin attack featuring Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Mohammad Nabi, and Nangeylia Kharote. Additionally, they are expected to enjoy significant fan support in Karachi, with a large Afghan and Pashtun community residing in the city. Shahidi noted the enthusiastic reception they received during their training session, saying it gave the team confidence knowing they have strong local support.
This will be Afghanistan’s first-ever appearance in the Champions Trophy, and the team is not just looking to participate but to make a serious title push. Afghanistan has shown remarkable improvement in recent years, finishing sixth in the 2023 ODI World Cup with four wins from nine matches and reaching the semifinals of the T20 World Cup, where they secured victories over top Test-playing nations such as England, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, and Australia.
“We are here to compete, and our goal is to win the final. We are not just here to take part—we are here to win. Over the last two years, we have played a lot of quality cricket, and with our experience and familiarity with these conditions, we have a strong chance. Hopefully, we start with a win and carry that momentum throughout the tournament,” Shahidi added.
Despite Afghanistan gaining full ICC membership in 2017, the team has not yet hosted international matches at home due to security concerns. They have played their home games in the UAE, Dehradun, Lucknow, and Greater Noida. Shahidi addressed concerns about Afghanistan’s cricket infrastructure, emphasizing that the country has the necessary facilities, including cricket academies and high-performance centers in Kabul and Jalalabad, along with stadiums in every region.
“I have heard people say that Afghanistan does not have stadiums, academies, or facilities, but that is completely wrong. We have well-developed cricket infrastructure. The reason teams have not toured Afghanistan is due to security concerns, but hopefully, we will soon see international teams playing in Afghanistan,” he explained.
Shahidi also highlighted the massive cricket fanbase in Afghanistan, revealing that domestic matches regularly attract packed stadiums, with thousands of fans waiting outside to watch games. He expressed hope that international teams would soon visit Afghanistan, allowing local fans to witness their national team playing at home.
“When we play domestic cricket, the stadiums are fully packed. Even for finals, around 50,000 people come to watch, and many more wait outside. If an international team comes to Afghanistan, you will see thousands of passionate fans filling the stadiums because cricket is loved by our people. I hope that day comes soon,” he concluded.
Afghanistan squad for ICC Champions Trophy:
Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Ikram Alikhil, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharoti, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Farid Malik, Naveed Zadran. Reserves: Darwish Rasooli, Bilal Sami.
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