The legendary Sachin Tendulkar led the cricketing world in applauding Afghanistan’s stunning eight-run victory over England in the Champions Trophy, asserting that their wins can no longer be termed as “upsets.”
Batting first, Ibrahim Zadran’s sensational 177 off 146 balls propelled Afghanistan to 325/7 in Lahore on Wednesday. In response, Azmatullah Omarzai’s five-wicket haul (5/58) dismantled England’s chase, restricting them to 317 all out, keeping Afghanistan’s semifinal hopes alive.
Tendulkar hailed Afghanistan’s meteoric rise in international cricket, stating:
“Afghanistan’s steady and consistent rise in international cricket has been inspiring! You can’t term their wins as upsets anymore, they’ve made this a habit now. A superb century by @IZadran18 and a wonderful five-for by @AzmatOmarzay sealed another memorable win for Afghanistan. Well played!”
Meanwhile, Ravi Shastri took a dig at England’s struggles in subcontinental conditions, urging them to adapt.
“Afghanistan. You guys rock. Kammaaal Kaardi! For England: Take playing in the Subcontinent seriously with no excuses. Only then will you be recognised as a team that can TRAVEL,” Shastri wrote.
Ajay Jadeja, who mentored Afghanistan during the 2023 World Cup, also showered praise on the team and their passionate fans, calling them the “most humble and passionate” supporters.
Pakistan’s Shoaib Akhtar backed Afghanistan to go beyond the semifinals, while former England captain Michael Vaughan admitted that England’s lackluster white-ball form led to their downfall.
“Brilliant from Afghanistan… Thoroughly deserved win. England just haven’t played good enough white-ball cricket for a couple of years. This result isn’t a surprise in these conditions,” Vaughan remarked.
With this victory, Afghanistan continues to shake up the cricketing world, proving they are now a force to be reckoned with on the global stage.
