England face must-win clash vs Afghanistan

A bruised England will fight to keep their Champions Trophy hopes alive when they take on a dangerous Afghanistan in a crucial Group B clash on Wednesday in Lahore.

With South Africa and Australia already on the board, a second defeat could all but end England’s semi-final chances. Their white-ball dominance is a distant memory, highlighted by their failure to defend 350+ against an understrength Australia.

England’s biggest test will be Afghanistan’s spin trio—Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, and Mohammad Nabi—against whom their recent struggles are glaring. To bolster their spin attack, England have replaced injured all-rounder Brydon Carse with leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed.

Phil Salt and Harry Brook’s inconsistency compounds England’s woes. Salt hasn’t converted starts since 2022, while Brook’s issues against spin have persisted since his struggles in India. Against Afghanistan’s world-class spinners, they must deliver.

Afghanistan, however, have their own problems after a crushing 107-run loss to South Africa. Their T20 World Cup semi-final run showcased talent, but ODIs demand greater consistency. To exploit England’s vulnerabilities, they must execute with precision.

For both teams, it’s now or never.