The cricket world, led by Sachin Tendulkar, has lauded Afghanistan for their remarkable victory over England by eight runs in the Champions Trophy. Tendulkar noted that Afghanistan’s wins are no longer surprises, highlighting their consistent improvement in international cricket.
Afghanistan batted first and scored 325 for seven, thanks to a brilliant century (177 runs) by Ibrahim Zadran. Azmatullah Omarzai then took five wickets for 58 runs, helping to restrict England to 317 runs and secure the win, keeping Afghanistan’s hopes for the semifinals alive.
Tendulkar congratulated Afghanistan on social media, praising Ibrahim Zadran’s century and Azmatullah Omarzai’s five-wicket haul for sealing another memorable victory.
Former Indian coach Ravi Shastri was also impressed with Afghanistan’s performance but criticized England for their poor performance in subcontinent conditions. Shastri emphasized the need for England to take playing in such conditions seriously to be considered a top traveling team.
Ajay Jadeja, former Indian cricketer and mentor for Afghanistan during the 2023 World Cup, also congratulated the team and acknowledged the passionate Afghan cricket fans.
Pakistan’s fast bowling legend Shoaib Akhtar expressed his belief that Afghanistan could advance beyond the semi-final stage.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan admitted that England was not up to par and that Afghanistan’s victory was well-deserved, stating that this result shouldn’t be a surprise given England’s recent white-ball cricket form in similar conditions.
