Jos Buttler has stepped down as England white-ball captain following their elimination from the group stage of the 2025 Champions Trophy.
Following the defeat to Afghanistan in Lahore, speculation grew around whether Buttler will step down or if England’s team management would make the call. Given his comments to Sky Sports, it seemed the former was inevitable.
“Obviously I don’t enjoy losing games of cricket and the result,” Buttler said. “Am I part of the problem or am I part of the solution? I think that’s what I’ve got to work out.”
Jos Buttler resigns as England captain – a challenging tenure in ODIs comes to an end
England’s Champions Trophy match against South Africa in Karachi on March 1 will be Buttler’s last as captain. It brings an end to a difficult tenure as ODI captain, with England winning 18 and losing 25 under his leadership. However, as many England fans have pointed out, their ODI issues seem to run deeper than just the captain.
The highlight of Buttler’s white-ball captaincy is the 2022 T20 World Cup triumph in Australia. He also contributed with the bat, most notably in the semi-final where he and Alex Hales chased India’s 168 with ten wickets and four overs to spare in Adelaide.
However, three poor ICC tournaments since have taken its toll. England were woeful in the 2023 ODI World Cup, struggled against full member nations in the 2024 T20 World Cup, and disappointed again in the 2025 Champions Trophy.
Buttler spoke at a press conference on the eve of England’s match against South Africa. “I’m going to stand down as England captain. It’s the right decision for me, it’s the right decision for the team, and hopefully someone else who can come in and work closely alongside Baz [Brendon McCullum] to take the team back to where it needs to be,” Buttler said.
When asked what prompted his decision, Buttler said, “It was quite clear this tournament was going to be important results wise for my captaincy, and obviously, two losses and being out of the tournament with a bit of a hangover of some tournaments before… just probably reached the end of the road for me and my captaincy, which is a shame. I’m sad about that, and obviously with Brendon coming in only recently, I was really excited to work closely alongside him and hope for a very quick turnaround and take the team forward.
“But, it’s not quite worked out that way, so it just feels like it’s the right time for me and for the team to have a change.”
When asked about whether he’s keen to continue as a player in 50-over cricket, Buttler said, “I’ll still be available, we’ll see what the coach wants to do there.”
BREAKING: Jos Buttler resigns as England's white-ball captain after their group-stage exit in the Champions Trophy 🚨🏴 pic.twitter.com/ERRvuAD9Nq
Pat Cummins is on track to be fit to lead Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the 2025 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Cummins missed the Champions Trophy due to both the impending birth of his second child and an ankle injury suffered in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, but is now bowling again.
Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Cummins said his ankle rehab has gone well. His next focus will be bowling regularly for the next few weeks to be ready for the IPL and World Test Championship Final.
“The ankle is all going strong, [have been] able to give it a good rest and then been building up slowly, which you don’t get to do when you play lots of cricket,” Cummins said.
“It’s feeling as strong as it has for a fair while. Should be fine [for the IPL], that’s the plan. So have a few weeks of bowling, building back up and then hopefully don’t have to worry about it for a while.”
Pat Cummins on track to play IPL 2025, WTC Final and West Indies Tests
Australia’s Test and ODI captain revealed his ankle is something he manages on a regular basis. It flared up during the thrilling Boxing Day Test against India, where Cummins played a crucial role in Australia’s victory which put them 2-1 up in the series.
“It’s something that we’ve opted never to have surgery on or intervene too much, just a lot to rehab,” said Cummins. “Having this break meant that I could get a couple of cortisones and really rehab it well the last couple of weeks.”
Cummins is set to lead SRH again in what promises to be another exciting year. The franchise, with Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma and Heinrich Klaasen in their ranks, broke all kinds of records in 2024, including 125/0 in the powerplay against Delhi Capitals. They reached the final but saved their worst performance till last, knocked over for 113 against Kolkata Knight Riders.
SRH will begin their IPL 2025 campaign against Rajasthan Royals in Hyderabad on March 23.
Sunrisers Hyderabad squad for IPL 2025: Pat Cummins (c, OS), Heinrich Klaasen (OS), Travis Head (OS), Abhishek Sharma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Jaydev Unadkat, Mohammed Shami, Ishan Kishan, Harshal Patel, Adam Zampa (OS), Rahul Chahar, Abhinav Manohar, Brydon Carse (OS), Simarjeet Singh, Kamindu Mendis (OS), Eshan Malinga (OS), Arthava Taide, Sachin Baby, Aniket Verma, Zeeshan Ansari
It’s England against South Africa in the 11th match of the 2025 Champions Trophy (CT). This will be the third and final game in Karachi, and Jos Buttler’s last as captain. South Africa will look to seal their spot in the semi-finals, and England, on the other hand, will look to end their campaign with a win.
The Proteas defeated Afghanistan by 107 runs in their first match on this ground, before their second game got washed out. They are looking in top form, with their bowlers and batters performing well. A washed-out game meant more time to recover for Heinrich Klaasen, and most probably, he should be playing this game.
South Africa has excellent depth in both batting and bowling. The likes of Wiaan Mulder and Marco Jansen lengthen their batting lineup. Then, they have Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi and other pace options with the ball.
Meanwhile, England continued their horror run in white-ball cricket as they were knocked out by Afghanistan in their last game. They conceded 325 runs, which was a disappointing result as they took three early wickets.
However, 326 was gettable but their batters then failed to get going, except for Joe Root (120 runs). The second-highest score for England was 38 runs. The likes of Phil Salt, Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone and Jamie Smith have failed miserably in this tournament. There have been a few injury concerns in the English camp as well.
In this article, we will look at the possible XIs, Karachi pitch report, fantasy cricket tips and Dream11 prediction for the 11th match of CT 2025.
CT 2025 11th Match: SA vs ENG Possible Playing XIs
Heinrich Klaasen is expected to play this game.
South Africa: 1. Ryan Rickelton (wk), 2. Temba Bavuma (c), 3. Rassie van der Dussen, 4. Aiden Markram, 5. Heinrich Klaasen, 6. David Miller, 7. Wiaan Mulder, 8. Marco Jansen, 9. Kagiso Rabada, 10. Keshav Maharaj, 11. Lungi Ngidi
Tom Banton and Saqib Mahmood are expected to replace Salt and Wood. Rehan Ahmed and Gus Atkinson may replace Livingstone and Archer if they’re not 100% fit.
England: 1. Tom Banton (wk), 2. Ben Duckett, 3. Jamie Smith, 4. Joe Root, 5. Harry Brook, 6. Jos Buttler (c), 7. Jamie Overton, 8. Liam Livingstone/Rehan Ahmed, 9. Jofra Archer/Gus Atkinson, 10. Adil Rashid, 11. Saqib Mahmood
Karachi Cricket Stadium Pitch Report and Weather
The pitch is expected to be a good one for batting in this game. The ball will come onto the bat nicely and there will be some help for the spinners as well, especially in the first innings. The tri-series matches were played at this venue ahead of the Champions Trophy. The average first innings score was 307 runs, followed by scores of 320/5 and 315/6 in this tournament.
The team batting first has won both games in Karachi in this tournament, but there will be the temptation to chase as batting second worked nicely in the tri-series. A bright sunny day awaits the fans with a high of 28 degrees Celsius. There is no chance of rain.
Fantasy Cricket Tips for SA vs ENG: Players to Watch/Key Stats
Note: Try to pick more batters and all-rounders if you are playing on Dream11. The new point system rewards the batters heavily.
Top Wicket-Keeper Picks:
Ryan Rickelton scored a brilliant century in the first game against Afghanistan. He’s been in sublime form lately and will be a must in your fantasy teams. Rickelton has 274 runs in five ODIs since 2024 at an average of 54.80 with a fifty and hundred.
Heinrich Klaasen has been the best batter for the Proteas in ODIs since 2024: 351 runs in 4 innings at an average of 87.75 with four fifties. Against England, Klaasen has struck 291 runs at an average of 48.50 and strike rate of 126.52.
Jos Buttler has failed to convert his starts into big scores, but he is a player who can cause damage. He has scored 555 runs against the Proteas in 15 games at an average of 46.20, including two fifties and two centuries.
Key batter picks:
Joe Root is the best fantasy pick for this match. He’s been in sublime form lately and scores runs for fun. He scored 120 in the last game and 68 in the first game. Root is expected to bowl a few overs as well. He averages 45.50 against the Proteas, including two hundreds and three fifties.
Temba Bavuma scored 58 in the first game. He averages 54.70 against England for his 328 runs in six ODIs, including a fifty and a hundred. He can fetch good points and will be a must in your fantasy teams.
Rassie van der Dussen averages 51.90 against England with a couple of fifties and two centuries. He has scored 467 runs against them in 10 innings. Rassie scored 52 in the first match against Afghanistan. He will be a key batter for his team.
Ben Duckett scored 165 runs in the first game against Australia and 38 in the last match. He’s been the in-form batter for England and will be a top pick. However, Duckett has a poor record against the Proteas in ODIs: 23 runs in 3 games at an average of 7.70.
Top all-rounder picks:
Aiden Markam scored 52* in the first game. He has a decent record against England: 255 runs in seven innings at 43.50 with a fifty. Markam may bowl an over or two if required.
Marco Jansen has 113 runs in three innings against England including a knock of 75. He has picked up five wickets in three innings at an average of 30.80. Jansen can fetch points from both bat and ball.
Key bowler picks:
Kagiso Rabda picked up three wickets in the first game. He has 21 wickets in 10 games against England in ODIs. He will be a must in your fantasy teams and a good C/VC option if South Africa is bowling first.
Other Players to Consider for your Fantasy Cricket Team
Adil Rashid has been a key bowler for his side. He has 23 wickets in 17 ODIs against South Africa. He can pick up 2-3 wickets on his day.
David Miller averages 74.40 against England in 10 innings for 372 runs. He has five fifties against them. He can be a game-changer in fantasy cricket in this match.
Other Matchups and Facts
Head to Head (ODIs): England (30), South Africa (34)
Marco Jansen vs Joe Root (ODIs): 4 deliveries, 1 run, 1 dismissal.
Kagiso Rabada has dismissed Jos Buttlerthrice in 33 deliveries for 24 runs in ODIs.
CT 2025 11th Match: SA vs ENG Dream11 Prediction
Option 1:
CT 2025 11th Match: SA vs ENG Dream11 Prediction
Option 2:
CT 2025 11th Match: SA vs ENG Dream11 Prediction
CT 2025 11th Match: SA vs ENG Match Prediction: Who will win?
Based on current form and team balance, South Africa are the clear favourites to win this match. They have excellent depth in their batting and a top-class pace attack. It’s not going to be easy for England, especially their current form and injury concerns in the camp. South Africa to win this match.
Disclaimer: The fantasy cricket stats, tips and predictions provided on CricBlog are intended for informational purposes, with the stats and writer’s views in place to guide fans in creating their teams. While we strive to offer accurate and insightful advice, CricBlog does not guarantee success or winnings in any fantasy contests. Users are encouraged to make their own informed decisions and play responsibly.
The 10th match of the 2025 Champions Trophy (CT) has a lot riding on it. As predicted on The CricBlog Podcast, Australia and Afghanistan look to be fighting it out for the second semi-final spot behind South Africa, with the Proteas needing victory against already eliminated England to qualify.
Afghanistan, who were outstanding against England, have a great chance of knocking off Australia. The Afghans have given the Australians a difficult time in the last two ICC events, beating them at the 2024 T20 World Cup after a Glenn Maxwell miracle denied them in the 2023 edition.
However, there are a couple of key questions for Afghanistan. The first is how well they can back up less than 48 hours after their victory. Also, they look much stronger batting first, so can they chase well if needed?
For Australia, this will be their first game since beating England last Saturday, with rain washing out their game against South Africa. They were excellent in chasing 352 on this ground, but they will need to find ways to take regular wickets, especially if Afghanistan bat first. Should the Aussies lose, they will need to rely on England to do them a favour by beating South Africa by a big enough margin to qualify on net run rate.
In this article, we will look at the possible XIs, Lahore pitch report, fantasy cricket tips and Dream11 prediction for what promises to be a fascinating 10th match of CT 2025.
CT 2025 10th Match: AFG vs AUS Possible Playing XIs
Afghanistan could stick with the same XI.
Afghanistan: 1. Ibrahim Zadran, 2. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 3. Sediqullah Atal, 4. Rahmat Shah, 5. Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), 6. Azmatullah Omarzai, 7. Mohammad Nabi, 8. Gulbadin Naib, 9. Rashid Khan, 10. Noor Ahmad, 11. Fazalhaq Farooqi
Spencer Johnson was overlooked during the death overs against England. Sean Abbott could come into the XI.
Australia: 1. Matthew Short, 2. Travis Head, 3. Steven Smith (c), 4. Marnus Labuschagne, 5. Josh Inglis (wk), 6. Alex Carey, 7. Glenn Maxwell, 8. Sean Abbott/Spencer Johnson, 9. Ben Dwarshuis, 10. Nathan Ellis, 11. Adam Zampa
Gaddafi Stadium Lahore Pitch Report and Weather
There is the threat of rain in Lahore, but fingers crossed things should be clear in the afternoon and evening. AccuWeather forecasts 4mm of rain to fall but all in the morning, with partly cloudy conditions from the late morning onwards.
The Lahore track is a batting belter. England’s 351 was chased with 15 balls to spare by Australia, before Afghanistan smashed 113 runs in the final ten overs to reach 325/7 against England as well.
Australia may opt to chase again, but that could be a risky move given Afghanistan are strong when batting first. So, it’s likely that Afghanistan will bat first in this game as they made that call at the toss against England.
Fantasy Cricket Tips for AFG vs AUS: Top Picks/Key Players to Watch
Note: Try to pick more batters and all-rounders if you are playing on Dream11. The new point system rewards the batters heavily.
Top wicket-keeper picks:
Rahmanullah Gurbaz hasn’t got going yet in this tournament, but he can fire at any moment, especially batting first. He averages 52.15 in 26 ODIs batting first compared to 20.42 in 22 ODIs batting second.
Josh Inglis, who smashed 120* against England on this ground, will be vital against Afghanistan’s spinners in the middle overs.
Consider Alex Carey for your Dream11 teams. He is in excellent form, with 274 runs in his last five ODIs at an average of 68.5 and strike rate of 107.5. He is proactive against spin, which is vital against Afghanistan.
Key batter picks:
Ibrahim Zadran hit the highest-ever score in the Champions Trophy two days ago (177). He is Also, he scored 129* (143) against Australia in the 2023 World Cup, which drove Afghanistan to 291/5 in Mumbai.
Travis Head missed out against England, but he is such a dangerous player in these conditions. In all ODIs since the start of 2022, Head has scored 1,396 runs at an average of 55.8 and strike rate of 121.3.
Top all-rounder picks:
Glenn Maxwell against Afghanistan needs no reminding. He has regularly scored runs against them across formats, with his 201* in Mumbai one of the very best ODI knocks. Given he will be required to bowl as well, Maxwell is a must pick in Dream11.
Azmatullah Omarzai produced a magnificent all-round performance two days ago (41 and 5/58). With Australia lacking some punch and depth in their attack, Omarzai is a player who can add real impetus to the Afghanistan innings.
Mohammad Nabi continues to produce the goods. He smashed 40 (24) and took 2/57 (8) against England.
Key bowler picks:
Rashid Khan will be sure to test the Australians. Plus, he can contribute Dream11 fantasy points with the bat, just like he did in the 2023 World Cup where he struck 35* off 18 balls.
Adam Zampa is a vital cog in the Aussie lineup and will be required to keep things tight in the middle overs. He may even bowl at the death which increases chances of taking wickets. Since the start of 2022, Zampa has taken 86 ODI wickets at an average of 24.6 and economy of 5.55.
Other Players to Consider for Your Fantasy Teams
Marnus Labuschagne looked in good touch with the bat against England. Also, he is expected to play a role with the ball again, which can deliver fantasy points.
Matt Short played really well against England. However, there are still some question marks around his game against spin. Afghanistan have quality spinners in their lineup, so it’ll be interesting to see how Short goes.
Steve Smith is searching for his best form in ODIs. He is averaging just 33 in this format since the start of 2023. But, given his prowess, especially in big games, Smith can be a safe pick in Dream11.
Rahmat Shah struck a nice 90 against South Africa earlier in this tournament. He can provide Afghanistan with stability in the middle.
Ben Dwarshuis will bowl in the crunch overs. His left-arm angle offers a point of difference and has good changes of pace which can work nicely at Lahore.
Other Stats and Matchups
Head-to-head: Matches 4, Australia 4, Afghanistan 0.
Mohammad Nabi has figures of 1/16 off 18 balls against Glenn Maxwell in ODIs.
Glenn Maxwell has faced 39 balls in international cricket against Rashid Khan without dismissal (51 runs).
Ibrahim Zadran can go big if he gets through the powerplay. He has scored 27 off 29 against Adam Zampa without dismissal in ODIs.
CT 2025 10th Match: AFG vs AUS Dream11 Prediction
Note: The below teams are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time. Use the stats and commentary in this article, as well as your own instincts, to create your teams.
Option 1:
CT 2025 10th Match: AFG vs AUS Dream11 Prediction
Option 2:
CT 2025 10th Match: AFG vs AUS Dream11 Prediction
CT 2025 10th Match: AFG vs AUS Match Prediction – Who will win?
This has the makings of a cracking clash. On a flat pitch, Australia may just have enough in their batting to get over the line and qualify for the semi-finals.
Disclaimer: The fantasy cricket stats, tips and predictions provided on CricBlog are intended for informational purposes, with the stats and writer’s views in place to guide fans in creating their teams. While we strive to offer accurate and insightful advice, CricBlog does not guarantee success or winnings in any fantasy contests. Users are encouraged to make their own informed decisions and play responsibly.
AFG vs ENG Reactions: England’s horrid 2025 has continued, with Jos Buttler’s team eliminated from the Champions Trophy after losing their opening two matches. The eight-run defeat to Afghanistan confirmed their exit, and marked their ninth loss in ten matches across formats this year.
This isn’t a surprise. Despite possessing a talented team on paper, England lack the know-how to get across the line in ODIs. The loss to Afghanistan was their 18th in 25 matches since the start of the 2023 World Cup, with this loss set up by the decision play a thin bowling attack.
Mark Wood came into the game with a heavily bandaged knee, but England risked him. Worse, they selected all-rounder Jamie Overton to replace specialist bowler Brydon Carse. England’s bowling lacked depth when they failed to defend 351 against Australia, and it was on show again as the Afghans recovered from 37/3 to take England apart at the death, smashing 113 runs in the final ten overs to finish with 325/7.
England were run ragged. You got the feeling that even on a flat Lahore pitch, England will make tough work of the chase given the momentum Afghanistan finished with and how England struggle under pressure.
In the chase, Joe Root stood out like a sore thumb as he brought up his 17th ODI ton. He manoeuvred spin beautifully as no one else managed to cross 40. Despite regular wickets falling, Root helped take his team to 287/6 with 39 needed off 26 balls. While his dismissal was a huge blow, England still had a great chance to win with Jamie Overton at the crease. However, he couldn’t finish the job.
It’s difficult to see how Jos Buttler can continue as captain from here. “Obviously I don’t enjoy lsing games of cricket and the results,” he said, speaking to Sky Sports. “‘Am I part of the problem or am I part of the solution?’ I think that’s what I’ve got to work out.”
AFG vs ENG Reactions: England criticised for underachieving yet again
Both England and rival fans shared their thoughts on the issues plaguing the team. One big talking point is the onset of The Hundred as a key reason why England’s 50-over game has taken a nosedive. Also, other fans have criticised Brendan McCullum as coach and England’s poor mentality.
For Afghanistan, this is another wonderful moment. They will qualify for the semi-finals if they beat Australia. Ibrahim Zadran was outstanding for his 177, lifting Afghanistan up from a very difficult position early on. Then, Azmatullah Omarzai’s stunning all-round display, including the key wickets of Buttler and Root, helped seal a famous win.
Here are some of the reactions to England’s elimination.
2019 ODI WC: England Champions
2021: The First Edition of the Hundred
2023 ODI WC: Finished 7th, knocked out in the group stage
2025 Champions Trophy: Knocked out in the group stage
Is it time to accept the hundred is partly to blame for England’s regression in ODIs?
This turned out to be true. Mott, Baz… changing coaches won't help. I believe the rot runs much deeper. England have relegated their domestic one-day tournament as they concentrate on the Hundred and T20 Blast now. The younger lot don't have much muscle memory. One-day cricket… https://t.co/Np0ZYWGjyf
Absolutely fitting that an ecosystem that tried to discredit and bit ODI cricket has now been thrashed out of the second consecutive ICC event by a team it wanted banned. Poetic!
The (very obvious) cracks have been glued together by Root, Rashid and Duckett. But ultimately, Salt isn't an ODI opener. Livingstone isn't a finisher. Wood isn't fit enough for three formats. Brook's form can't be carried.
England started this trip of subcontinent on Jan 22. Since then, they've lost a T20I series 4-1, an ODI series 3-0 and crashed out first round of a Champions Trophy. But none of this matters. McCullum is soon going to tell you why.
Eng wins in last 3 ICC events have come against following teams USA West Indies Namibia Oman Pakistan Netherlands Bangladesh That's it…They are a third class team now#CT25
Time for everyone involved in England cricket to realise we need a proper competitive 50 over tournament in the County Cricket circuit to practice for completion like this and future World Cups 🏏
Pakistan gonna get a detailed report of their AQI, Noise Pollution, light Pollution and every environmental factor that resulted in England's loss tonight.
How can Eng be successful in ODIs when domestic 50 over comp is sidelined? Top players/emerging youngsters don't play in it and performances disregarded of those that do. Morgan et al's hard work has gone to waste. Back to square one#ChampionsTrophy#Cricket
A real concern for Eng should be that these defeats are with players who grew up learning the craft of 50 over cricket. Since 2020, there has been no 50 over domestic cricket for Eng’s best young white ball cricketers. Nowhere for future players to learn the craft of the format.
England's results in men's white-ball cricket this year: LLWLLLLLLL. Played 10, lost 9. Thrashed in India, now humbled in Pakistan. Surely game over for Jos Buttler's captaincy
The 9th match will be the first dead rubber of the 2025 Champions Trophy (CT) between Pakistan and Bangladesh. Both sides lost their respective games against New Zealand and India and are out of the semi-finals race. This match will be played at Rawalpindi where the last game was washed out and there’s a rain threat in this game as well.
Pakistan lost their first game against New Zealand by 60 runs, followed by a six-wicket defeat against India. The Pakistan batters have been abysmal in the first two games and that’s the main reason for their poor performance. Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Tayyab Tahir have failed miserably in this tournament.
Saud Shakeel scored a fifty against India but he was in poor form before that. Their bowlers, especially the pace trio of Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah, have been ineffective with the ball. Abrar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah and Salman Agha have been the in-form players for them.
Bangladesh, meanwhile, lost their first game against India by six wickets followed by a five-wicket defeat against the Kiwis. Their batters have also failed to get going this tournament but their bowlers have been quite better than their Pakistani counterparts.
Taskin Ahmed, Jaker Ali and Rishad Hossain have done well for them. They need consistency with the bat if they are to win this game. The senior batters in Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah will have to step up and take responsibility in this match.
Both Pakistan and Bangladesh have struggled with the bat but Pakistan’s bowling has been below average as well. It should be a good game of cricket as both sides will be eyeing a win to end their campaign.
CT 2025 9th Match: PAK vs BAN Probable Playing XIs
Usman Khan, Faheem Ashraf and Kamran Ghulam may feature in the XI for this game.
Pakistan: 1. Usman Khan, 2. Babar Azam, 3. Saud Shakeel, 4. Kamran Ghulam, 5. Mohammad Rizwan (c & wk), 6. Salman Agha, 7. Khushdil Shah, 8. Faheem Ashraf/Naseem Shah, 9. Shaheen Afridi, 10. Haris Rauf, 11. Abrar Ahmed
Bangladesh may also give a chance to their bench in this match.
Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium Pitch Report and Weather
The pitch looked like a good one for batting in the first game at Rawalpindi between Bangladesh and New Zealand. The batters can play their shots trusting the wicket and there was assistance for the spinners as well. The pacers got good movement with the new ball in the second innings. It should be a good wicket to bat on in this match.
Rain is on the forecast during the match time and we may see a rain-interrupted game if not another washed-out match.
Fantasy Cricket Tips for PAK vs BAN: Players to Watch/Key Stats
Note: Try to pick more batters and all-rounders if you are playing on Dream11. The new point system rewards the batters heavily.
Top Wicket-Keeper Picks:
Mohammad Rizwan scored 46 runs in the last game. He hasn’t been in the best of form, but he will keep wickets and be a key batter for his side in the middle order. He averages 57.70 against Bangladesh for his 173 runs in five innings, including two fifties.
Jaker Ali has scores of 45 and 68 in the last two matches. He’s been the in-form player for his side in the lower order. He likes to bat aggressively and has been in good form as well.
Key batter picks:
Babar Azam looked in decent touch in the last game against India. He played a couple of good shots. He is searching for runs and will be eager to do well in this game. Babar against Bangladesh: 123 runs in four ODIs at an average of 30.80 including a fifty.
Saud Shakeel scored 62 runs against India. He will bat in the top three and looked in decent touch in the last match.
Najmul Hossain Shanto will be a key batter for his team. He scored 77 runs in the last game against New Zealand. Shanto likes to take his time initially and then capitalise on the start.
Top all-rounder picks:
Rishad Hossain has 44 runs and three wickets in two matches so far. He will be the lead spinner for Bangladesh and he’s handy with the bat as well. Rishad can trouble Pakistan’s middle order.
Khushdil Shah scored 69 runs in the first game against the Kiwis followed by 38 runs and a wicket against India. He’s one of the in-form players for Pakistan and will be a must in your fantasy teams.
Key bowler picks:
Shaheen Afridi has 12 wickets against Bangladesh in four ODIs including a 5-fer. He can trouble Bangladesh’s top order initially with the new ball. Shaheen picked up two wickets in the last game. Try him as C/VC while bowling first.
Haris Rauf has six wickets in just two matches against Bangladesh. He will be an important bowler for his side in the middle and death phases. Rauf will be a top fantasy pick.
Naseem Shahhas picked up three wickets in his only ODI against Bangladesh. He swings the new ball both ways and can pick up 2-3 wickets easily on his day.
Taskin Ahmed picked up a wicket in the last game. He was excellent with the new ball. Taskin can trouble Pakistan’s struggling top order, especially while bowling second under the lights.
Other Players to Consider for your Fantasy Cricket Team
Agha Salmanis in good form lately but he’ll bat too low from fantasy POV. He may bowl an over or two of his off-spin. He scored 42 runs in the first game and 19 in the last one.
Abrar Ahmed picked up a wicket in the last match. He can trouble Bangladesh’s out-of-form middle-order with his variations. Abrar has two wickets in two games so far in the tournament.
Other Matchups and Facts
Head to Head (ODIs): Pakistan (34), Bangladesh (5)
Nahid Rana has dismissed Babar Azamtwice in 24 deliveries for 13 runs in Test cricket. He can trouble him in this game as well.
Mohammad Rizwan needs 28 runs to complete 2600 runs in ODI cricket.
CT 2025 9th Match: PAK vs BAN Dream11 Prediction
Option 1:
CT 2025 9th Match: PAK vs BAN Dream11 Prediction
Option 2:
CT 2025 9th Match: PAK vs BAN Dream11 Prediction
CT 2025 9th Match: PAK vs BAN Match Prediction: Who will win?
Both teams have failed to get going with the bat in the tournament so far. Bangladesh’s bowling, especially the pace attack looks in good form compared to Pakistan. Despite that, Pakistan is expected to win this game but it’s not going to be an easy task at all.
Disclaimer: The fantasy cricket stats, tips and predictions provided on CricBlog are intended for informational purposes, with the stats and writer’s views in place to guide fans in creating their teams. While we strive to offer accurate and insightful advice, CricBlog does not guarantee success or winnings in any fantasy contests. Users are encouraged to make their own informed decisions and play responsibly.
India playing their Champions Trophy games in Dubai has been a hot topic of conversation for months on end, including within the tournament itself. Former England captains Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton believe India have an undeniable advantage playing at the same ground, as they are able to get used to conditions without having to travel to different grounds.
However, Hussain, as well as many other pundits and fans, believe India have home advantage. “I saw a tweet the other day: Pakistan – host nation, India – home advantage. That sort of sums it up, really,” Hussain said on Sky Sports.
Tim Wigmore echoed those thoughts further in his piece for The Telegraph. Wigmore also questioned why India always get the final game of the group stage, with “concerns about the integrity of the [ICC] tournaments” as India “would know exactly what they needed to do to qualify” should net run rate come into play.
India in Dubai: Does it make them unbeatable?
India do have the advantage of knowing and understanding the conditions. They would have played three games at the venue compared to none (plus the travel) for their semi-final opponent. Also, it is a fair argument to say India have picked a squad suited perfectly for one location. This advantage could have been reduced with one game in Abu Dhabi, for example, but India would have been in the semi-final regardless as Bangladesh and Pakistan are no match.
However, the talk of Dubai as home advantage is strange. The pitches so far in Dubai are quite different to what we see for ODIs in India, with truer batting surfaces a common sight throughout the country.
Ask any India batter where they’d rather be batting and I’d imagine each of them would say Lahore or Rawalpindi over Dubai. The surfaces have been prestine for batting in Pakistan, in contrast to Dubai which have been sluggish in nature.
The timing of such comments in the media comes as a surprise. To paint the result in the India-Pakistan game as some sort of injustice because it was played in Dubai is as ridiculous as it is wrong. India-Pakistan showdowns, either in ICC or Asia Cups, have largely gone one way over the past decade. It would have been an even easier win for India on a flat Lahore, Rawalpindi or Karachi pitch given the difference in mentality and quality between the two batting lineups.
India were far too good for Pakistan in Dubai.
In such a situation, mentality is so important. As an opponent, you can either tackle the challenge head on or choose to make an excuse. Teams with belief can exploit such conditions and cause India problems. Sluggish pitches that offer some spin and reward cutters can bring the two teams closer together, aiding bowling lineups to keep the Indian side more quiet than they likely would on a flat pitch.
The 2023 ODI World Cup Final is the most obvious example. Many fans and pundits wrote Australia off at the thought of a slow pitch, while some accused India of “rigging” the tournament. Michael Vaughan, before the semi-final of that tournament, said only fresh pitches should be used.
However, Pat Cummins’ side utilised the conditions magnificently to keep India in check. They conceded only a handful of boundaries and chased India’s 240 with consumate ease to lift their sixth World Cup. Following the match, India fans everywhere criticised the surface.
The slow Dubai track can bring the two teams closer together.
This is not to say such an occurrence will happen again in this Champions Trophy. But, a team who plans well and has the resources can cause India headaches in tricky conditions. For example, if India face Australia in the semi-final, the likes of Nathan Ellis and Ben Dwarshuis would be more difficult to handle on a Dubai track than Lahore with their cutters and slower balls into the pitch. The likes of Matt Short, Glenn Maxwell and Travis Head would be more threatening with deliveries holding in the surface, as opposed to a flat track where they would be fighting to bowl a single dot.
Of course, India have the bowlers – particularly spinners – to make life all the more challenging, but opponents with a positive mentality can go to the UAE with the belief they can win. Also, the likes of New Zealand, Australia and South Africa possess good players of spin in their lineups.
Yes, it would have been great to see India play in Pakistan and have the tournament in one country. Geo-political factors make these situations very complicated. However, from a cricketing perspective, I believe India would have been nailed on to win the tournament in Pakistani conditions. In Dubai, the opponents have more of a chance, and we Australians have witnessed how such conditions can work against India.
Time will tell what impact the sluggish surfaces of Dubai will have on the business end of the tournament. India are undoubtedly the favourites, but there are teams in this competition who will give it a red-hot crack. Let’s see what transpires.
The 8th match of the 2025 Champions Trophy (CT) has a lot riding on it. The washout between Australia and South Africa on Tuesday makes this a knockout match, with the losing side officially eliminated from the tournament.
Victory, however, puts the winner right in the mix for a semi-finals berth. Afghanistan would have been disappointed with their performance against South Africa, as batting first remains their biggest strength. They come up against England, whom they beat comfortably by 69 runs in the 2023 ODI World Cup.
In this article, we will look at the possible XIs, Lahore pitch report, Fantasy Cricket Tips and Dream11 Prediction for this crucial encounter.
CT 2025 8th Match: AFG vs ENG Possible Playing XIs
Afghanistan may stick with the same XI that went down to South Africa.
Afghanistan: 1. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 2. Ibrahim Zadran, 3. Sediqullah Atal, 4. Rahmat Shah, 5. Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), 6. Azmatullah Omarzai, 7. Mohammad Nabi, 8. Gulbadin Naib, 9. Rashid Khan, 10. Noor Ahmad/Nangeyalia Kharote, 11. Fazalhaq Farooqi
Brydon Carse is out of the tournament due to a toe injury. Legspinner Rehan Ahmed has been named as his replacement in the squad. However, England may bring Saqib Mahmood in the XI. Also, Jofra Archer seemed to be struggling with cramp in the Australia match.
England: 1. Ben Duckett, 2. Phil Salt, 3. Jamie Smith (wk), 4. Joe Root, 5. Harry Brook, 6. Jos Buttler (c), 7. Liam Livingstone, 8. Jofra Archer, 9. Saqib Mahmood, 10. Mark Wood, 11. Adil Rashid
Gaddafi Stadium Lahore Pitch Report and Weather
It was a magnificent batting track in Lahore on Saturday as Australia chased 352 against England with 15 balls to spare. Expect another excellent surface for batting again.
But, dew could play a factor, which will make things interesting at the toss. Batting first is Afghanistan’s strength, so will England give them that opportunity if Buttler wins the toss? For Afghanistan, do they risk bowling in the dew if Hashmatullah wins the toss?
The forecast looks good with conditions brightening up in the afternoon. AccuWeather forecasts just a 7% chance of precipitation with a top temperature of 25 degrees.
Fantasy Cricket Tips for AFG vs ENG: Key Players to Watch & Top Picks
Note: Try to pick more batters and all-rounders if you are playing on Dream11. The new point system rewards the batters heavily.
Top wicket-keeper picks:
Rahmanullah Gurbaz is a must especially if Afghanistan bats first. He averages 54.00 in 25 ODIs batting first, compared to 20.42 in 22 ODIs batting second.
Key batter picks:
Ben Duckett is in magnificent form. He is coming off 165 against Australia on this ground, where he picked up 289 Dream11 points. A must pick given he’s struck six fifties and three hundreds in 20 ODIs to date.
Rahmat Shah batted beautifully against South Africa for his 92. He provides Afghanistan with stability. Given his solid technique, he should enjoy conditions at Lahore.
Top all-rounder picks:
Picked in 94.9% of Dream11 teams, Joe Root has hit two half-centuries in his last three ODIs. He looks in good touch and a big score can be around the corner. He is also likely to chip in with overs that further increases his fantasy appeal.
Azmatullah Omarzai averages 52.4 with the bat in ODIs since the start of 2023. Also, he can find swing with the new ball in some overcast conditions in Lahore.
Key bowler picks:
Adil Rashid is the most important part of the England attack. Rashid took 3/42 against Afghanistan in the 2023 World Cup. The legspinner continues to perform and on a Lahore pitch where spin will be important, he is a must-pick.
Rashid Khan is a vc option in Dream11 given England’s worries against spin. He took 3/37 against them in the 2023 World Cup and also contributed with the bat (23 off 23 balls).
Jofra Archer is striving to return to his best. He has the potential to take big wickets as he bowls the crunch overs and can also contribute with lower order runs. Always worth a pick.
Other Players to Consider for your Fantasy Cricket Tips
Jos Buttler can be an excellent pick if England bat first. Afghanistan’s death bowling left a bit to be desired against South Africa and Buttler can take advantage in this game. However, Buttler averages just 25.8 in all ICC ODI tournaments (CWC and CT).
Ibrahim Zadran has made starts in his last three innings (39 and 32 in the CT warm ups and 17 vs South Africa). He is a player who can deliver a good score especially if he gets through the powerplay.
Liam Livingstone is inconsistent but can be worth a try in one of your contests. He will chip in with overs and has the capability to finish big. Of course, this is a riskier pick.
England have their issues against spin, so an opportunity awaits Mohammad Nabi. The offspinner took 6-1-16-2 in the World Cup match against England in 2023.
Phil Salt has made scores of 43, 26, 23 and 10 in his last four games. The potential for a big score is there if he can get through the powerplay.
Other Stats and Matchups
Head-to-head: Matches 3, Afghanistan 1, England 2.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz smashed 80 off 57 balls (batting first) against England in the 2023 World Cup.
Harry Brook struck 66 (61) against Afghanistan in the 2023 World Cup. Can he overcome his spin worries here?
Rashid Khan has figures of 5/50 off 75 balls against Jos Buttler in T20s. Will this translate to ODIs?
CT 2025 8th Match: AFG vs ENG Dream11 Prediction
Note: The below teams are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time. Use the stats and commentary in this article, as well as your own instincts, to create your teams.
Option 1:
CT 2025 8th Match: AFG vs ENG Dream11 Prediction
Option 2:
CT 2025 8th Match: AFG vs ENG Dream11 Prediction
CT 2025 8th Match: AFG vs ENG Match Prediction – Who will win?
Afghanistan are a great chance of winning especially if they bat first.
Disclaimer: The fantasy cricket stats, tips and predictions provided on CricBlog are intended for informational purposes, with the stats and writer’s views in place to guide fans in creating their teams. While we strive to offer accurate and insightful advice, CricBlog does not guarantee success or winnings in any fantasy contests. Users are encouraged to make their own informed decisions and play responsibly.
Hosts Pakistan have suffered an early exit from the 2025 Champions Trophy after two defeats in five days. They entered the tournament with hope after notable series wins in Australia and South Africa late last year, but yet again they have disappointed at an ICC event.
However, despite those series wins, no one can be surprised. Well, maybe except for the most passionate and optimistic Pakistan fans. Pakistan opted for similar balance to the squads that won in SENA conditions. In these conditions, their squad looked imbalanced with too many accumulators and lack of specialist spin options. Also, the way Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie have been treated over the past 12 months paints a clear picture of the instabilities within Pakistani cricket.
Plus, Pakistan performed woefully in both the 2023 ODI World Cup and 2024 T20 World Cup, and it is clear they haven’t learnt from those experiences.
Interim coach Aaqib Javed said Pakistan will surprise India on the eve of their showdown in Dubai. Instead, Pakistan repeated the same mistakes they made against New Zealand, digging themselves a deeper hole with every dot ball.
Now, Javed and his support team are set to be sacked. Whether he and his staff are the right people for the job is irrelevant. Pakistan continue to sack coaches in the hope things will change, rather than analysing their outdated approaches in ODI and T20I cricket.
Pakistan can rectify these issues by identifying the right talents in domestic cricket and setting up a pathway for them to succeed at international level, but they are reluctant to move away from this same core group of players. Jarrod Kimber put it quite nicely.
Pakistan fans react to team’s very disappointing early exit from the 2025 Champions Trophy
Pakistan’s poor batting and overall play drew heavy criticism from fans and pundits. After waiting 29 years to host another ICC event, Pakistan’s involvement in the tournament was very short lived, proving the doubters right around their credentials in this Champions Trophy.
Fans have called out Pakistan’s experienced players, who simply didn’t step up in these crunch games. Mohammad Rizwan’s 49 runs in the first two games came at a strike rate of 53.84. Babar Azam’s current total of 87 runs took 116 balls, including a 90-ball 64 that hurt Pakistan in the tournament opener. Also, the attack largely struggled for penetration, with no bowler taking more than two wickets across the two defeats.
“The hosts prepared for everything except Cricket,” wrote Kamran Muzaffer on X. “This got to be one of the worst Cricket preparation by a host in an ICC event, pretty close to England of 99 World Cup.”
Here are other reactions from disappointed Pakistan fans.
The hosts prepared for everything except Cricket.
This got to be one of the worst Cricket preparation by a host in an ICC event, pretty close to England of 99 World Cup.
Further embarrassment for Pakistan cricket – after hosting their first ICC tournament for 29 years, they become the first team knocked out of the Champions Trophy#CT25#Cricket
Another ICC tournament, another pathetic performance by Pakistan.
Now the script is ready, Chairman will remove the captain, coach, and selectors. He will think that he has fixed everything. When the same management forced Gary Kirsten to resign, only to replace him with a coach…
The depths we have fallen.. No accountability leads to this. Quite impossible for Pakistanis to think of better times as this continues on. https://t.co/6yEY1SVe9T
Pakistan getting eliminated from the Champions Trophy is a surprise to everyone except the people in charge of Pakistan cricket, who thought making ridiculous decision after ridiculous decision would somehow lead to success. It didn’t.
Make no mistake. As long as Rizwan Babar mafia is not kicked out of the team, any change would be cosmetic perpetuating this vicious cycle. That they shamelessly open in T20 when they are not even proper ODI batters should tell you how they have hijacked Pakistan cricket.
Take me back to 2022 when i genuinely thought a core of Babar Azam, Rizwan, Shaheen, Naseem, Shadab & Haris Rauf will ensure Pakistan is a top 3 side in couple of years across formats & serious title contenders for every ICC tournament, the regression is unreal
From the things I'm reading and hearing, none of Aqib Javed, Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, Hasan Cheema, Aleem Dar and Mohamamd Rizwan should be in a job at the end of this week.
But, Pakistan has zero accountability. The chairman himself is a walking liability.
This generation of cricketers are bunch of serial bottlers. Post CT 17 thought that next decade would be so exciting for PCT. But Babar, Shaheen, Shadab, Rizwan, Rauf have turned out to be sore loosers.
Shaheen and Babar are made scapegoat after every loss but Naseem Shah gets away every single time, after injury can't remember his one match winning performance yet he's protected way too much because of good looks tax.
Pakistan’s final game of CT 2025 will be against Bangladesh at Rawalpindi on Thursday, February 27. Given the rain in Rawalpindi this week, both Pakistan and Bangladesh may exit the 2025 Champions Trophy without a single victory.
Australia vs South Africa is a fascinating game on the cards for cricket fans in the 7th match of ICC Champions Trophy (CT) 2025. Both teams are coming to this game after winning their first respective matches in the tournament.
Bowling will be a headache for Australia going into this game as none of the pacers looked threatening in the first game. They will be tested against a top-quality batting unit in this game and the Aussie bowlers must be on their toes for this encounter.
Meanwhile, the Proteas are coming off a comprehensive win against Afghanistan by 107 runs. Their batters did a great job and the bowlers were excellent as well. Heinrich Klaasen who missed the first game is expected to be included in the side which will further bolster their batting.
The Proteas will be pretty confident coming into this game after a good team effort in the match against Afghanistan.
CT 2025 7th Match: AUS vs SA Probable Playing XIs
Australia could bring in Sean Abbott for Spencer Johnson. Johnson was not used in the death overs against England, with Smith even turning to Labuschagne instead.
Australia: 1. Travis Head, 2. Matthew Short, 3. Steve Smith (c), 4. Marnus Labuschagne, 5. Josh Inglis (wk), 6. Alex Carey, 7. Glenn Maxwell, 8. Sean Abott, 9. Ben Dwarshuis, 10. Nathan Ellis, 11. Adam Zampa
Heinrich Klaasen is expected to play this game.
South Africa: 1. Ryan Rickelton (wk), 2. Temba Bavuma (c), 3. Rassie van der Dussen, 4. Aiden Markram, 5. Heinrich Klaasen, 6. David Miller, 7. Wiaan Mulder, 8. Marco Jansen, 9. Kagiso Rabada, 10. Keshav Maharaj, 11. Lungi Ngidi
Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium Pitch Report and Weather
This will be the second game of the tournament at this venue, a day after Bangladesh vs New Zealand. The pitch here is generally a good one for batting. The ball should come onto the bat nicely allowing the batters to play their shots. The pacers may get some movement in the second innings with the new ball.
Spinners are expected to get little help off the deck but not much or anything threatening for the batters. Overall, the batters will dominate the match. Teams may prefer chasing.
The forecast shows 30-40% rain throughout the game time. It’s expected to be cloudy and we might see a little rain interruption as well.
Fantasy Cricket Tips for AUS vs SA: Players to Watch/Key Stats
Note: Try to pick more batters and all-rounders if you are playing on Dream11. The new point system rewards the batters heavily.
Top Wicket-Keeper Picks:
Ryan Rickelton scored a brilliant century in the first game against Afghanistan. He’s been in sublime form lately and will be a must in your fantasy teams. This will be his first game against Australia.
Heinrich Klaasen averages 57.80 against Australia in 13 ODIs for his 578 runs at a strike rate of 120.20. He has two fifties and two hundreds to his name. Klaasen has been the best batter for the Proteas in ODIs since 2024.
Josh Inglis scored 120* runs in 86 deliveries to help Australia chase down 351 runs. He is a key batter for his side in the middle order and will be a must in your fantasy teams, especially if Australia bats first.
Key batter picks:
Travis Head was dismissed cheaply in the first game but he looked in good touch. He has 368 runs against South Africa in 13 ODIs at an average of 30.70 with three fifties. Head can score big on his day. Try him as C/VC in the big leagues in fantasy cricket.
Temba Bavuma scored 58 in the first game. He’s been in good form in the last 12 months and will be a top pick in fantasy cricket. Bavuma is expected to open in this match and can score big if he gets going.
Steve Smith will be a key batter for his team at number 3. His last fifty against the Proteas was back in 2020. Smith will be itching to do well in this game, especially after missing out in the first game. Against South Africa: 733 runs in 21 innings at an average of 38.60. Four fifties and two centuries.
Marnus Labuschagne averages 55.10 against South Africa with two hundreds and a fifty to his name in 10 games. He has scored 496 runs against the Proteas. Marnus was used with the ball in the last game which makes him a top fantasy pick.
Top all-rounder picks:
Aiden Markam scored a quickfire 52* to help South Africa post a good total in the first game. He has a good record against the Aussies: 412 runs in 11 innings @41.20 with two fifties and a century. Markam may bowl a few overs as well.
Glenn Maxwell is expected to bowl a few overs and do the late-hitting duties for his team. He picked up a wicket and scored 32* off 15 in the first game. Maxwell will be a must in your fantasy teams.
Key bowler picks:
Kagiso Rabda picked up three wickets in the first game. He will be the lead pacer for his side. He has 30 wickets in 15 games against Australia in ODIs. He will be a must in your fantasy teams.
Adam Zampa will be very important for the Aussies with the ball. The leggie has 19 wickets against South Africa in 18 matches. He picks up wickets in clusters on his day.
Other Players to Consider for your Fantasy Cricket Team
Marco Jansen has 10 wickets and 160 runs against Australia in seven games. He could fetch points from both bat and ball. He will be a good fantasy pick but his value is with the ball as it’s unlikely that he’ll get enough game time with the bat to make an impact.
Matthew Short was excellent in the first game with his 63 runs but he will be against the likes of Rabada and Jansen in this game. He will be in for a big score if he gets past them.
Other Matchups and Facts
Head to Head (ODIs): Australia (51), South Africa (55)
Kagiso Rabada has dismissed Travis Headthrice in 55 deliveries for 62 runs in ODIs.
Lungi Ngidi needs one wicket to complete 100 ODI wickets.
Heinrich Klaasen has smashed 121 off 89 balls against Adam Zampa (three dismissals).
CT 2025 7th Match: AUS vs SA Dream11 Prediction
Note: The below teams are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time. Use the stats and commentary in this article, as well as your own instincts, to create your teams.
Option 1:
CT 2025 7th Match: AUS vs SA Dream11 Prediction
Option 2:
CT 2025 7th Match: AUS vs SA Dream11 Prediction
CT 2025 7th Match: AUS vs SA Match Prediction: Who will win?
Both teams are neck-to-neck in terms of batting depth and quality but bowling will be a concern for the Aussies. They conceded 351 runs in the first game and it’s an area where they lack behind the Proteas. But despite that, I am backing Australia to come out victorious in this clash.
Disclaimer: The fantasy cricket stats, tips and predictions provided on CricBlog are intended for informational purposes, with the stats and writer’s views in place to guide fans in creating their teams. While we strive to offer accurate and insightful advice, CricBlog does not guarantee success or winnings in any fantasy contests. Users are encouraged to make their own informed decisions and play responsibly.
