Memories of World Cup shock boost Afghanistan for England clash / Photo: Aamir QURESHI - AFP
-
S. Korea's Yoon defiant as impeachment hearings draw to an end
-
Kremlin 'no comment' on report 95,000 Russian troops killed in Ukraine
-
'Matter of survival': Nations spar over nature funding at UN talks
-
Rain washes out Australia-South Africa Champions Trophy match
-
UK PM heads to US hoping to 'bridge' Trump-Europe divide over Ukraine
-
Real Madrid doing well despite 'absurd, unsustainable' schedule: Ancelotti
-
Ailing pope works on saints from hospital as Catholics pray for recovery
-
Thai police arrest Briton for overstaying visa by 25 years
-
Afghan cricketers in 'tricky situation', says their English coach
-
S. Korea opposition urges court remove Yoon over martial law
-
Hooker Dewi Lake returns to Wales squad after biceps surgery
-
Bangladesh army chief warns country 'at risk' from infighting
-
New Zealand battle-ready after 'tough' Pakistan leg: Stead
-
German family-run machine maker issues SOS to future government
-
'Over my dead body': Arteta says Arsenal still fighting for title
-
Stock markets struggle on fears over Trump's China tech curbs
-
Indonesia agrees to terms with Apple to lift iPhone sales ban: source
-
Memories of World Cup shock boost Afghanistan for England clash
-
Dual World Cup winning Springbok prop Kitshoff calls time on career
-
Saving nature can 'unite world' countries told at rebooted UN talks
-
All Black veteran Nonu returns to Toulon at 42
-
Chance huge asteroid will hit Earth down to 0.001 percent
-
Search for doomed MH370 resumes 11 years after disappearance
-
Liverpool glory would boost Salah's Ballon d'Or chances: Slot
-
New Syria leader vows state 'monopoly' on weapons
-
Unilever boss to step down after less than two years at helm
-
Kate Bush leads UK musicians in 'silent album' AI fight
-
Ailing pope resting amid slight improvement: Vatican
-
Hein Schumacher to step down as Unilever CEO
-
Pakistan bemoans 'death of cricket' after Champions Trophy flop
-
Ailing pope 'rested well' amid improvement: Vatican
-
1MDB drops $248 mn suit against 'Wolf of Wall Street' producer: lawyer
-
Countries lock horns over cash for nature at rebooted UN talks
-
Tesla rolls out advanced self-driving functions in China
-
Milan Fashion week opens as luxury sector struggles
-
Pistons continue playoff push with win over Clippers
-
Thailand's beaming Somkiat set to make MotoGP history
-
'Complete overhaul': what went wrong for Pakistan in Champions Trophy
-
What happens next in S. Korea as Yoon's impeachment trial wraps up
-
Asian markets sink as Trump tariffs, China curbs stunt rally
-
Trump calls for revival of Keystone XL Pipeline project axed by Biden
-
S. Korea's central bank cuts rate, growth outlook over tariff fears
-
South Korea's Yoon faces last impeachment hearing over martial law
-
Transgender religious order gets rare approval at India Hindu festival
-
Trump's chip tariff threats raise stakes for Taiwan
-
Stuck in eternal drought, UAE turns to AI to make it rain
-
Galatasaray accuse Mourinho of 'racist statements' after derby
-
Fears of US public health crises grow amid falling vaccination rates
-
Latin American classics get the streaming treatment
-
Fires, strikes, pandemic and AI: Hollywood workers can't catch a break
NYSE - LSE
Memories of World Cup shock boost Afghanistan for England clash
Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi warned England on Tuesday that memories of their famous 2023 World Cup win over the then holders gives them the confidence to pull off a Champions Trophy surprise.
Both teams need a win on Wednesday in Lahore to keep alive their hopes of reaching the semi-finals in the 50-over tournament after losing their respective openers.
Afghanistan shocked England in 2023 when they humbled the defending world champions by 69 runs in New Delhi.
Afghanistan's rise in white-ball cricket has been rapid.
"We worked hard to achieve at this level and are ready to play every game in a positive way," Shahidi said on the eve of the pivotal Group B clash.
"We will take that confidence with us what happened in the 2023 World Cup. But at the same time, tomorrow is a new day and we will try our best to beat them again."
Afghanistan started the eight-nation Champions Trophy with a 107-run hammering by South Africa in Karachi.
Their bowlers took a beating in South Africa's impressive total of 315-6. Ace spinner Rashid Khan went wicketless and leaked 59 runs from his 10 overs of leg-spin.
In turn Afghanistan were bowled out for a meagre 208.
Shahidi, however, expects a much better show from his side at the Gaddafi Stadium and believes the Afghan spinners could be the difference on what he expects to be a turning pitch.
"When we bat first that gives us more chance. At the same time in the last World Cup we beat teams batting second," Shahidi told reporters.
"But in the South Africa game the wicket was supportive for fast bowling and there was no support for spinners. I didn't see even one ball turn.
"The world knows we have quality spinners. Hopefully we have some support for our spinners in tomorrow's game."
England came under pressure from British politicians to boycott Wednesday's game over the treatment of Afghan women by the ruling Taliban.
The England and Wales Cricket Board resisted the demand but said they would not schedule a bilateral series against Afghanistan.
Shahidi batted away questions about it on the eve of the match.
"We are cricket players, we are sportsmen," said Shahidi.
"What we control is what we do on the ground, we don't worry what is happening off the ground. So our confidence is good."
F.Pedersen--AMWN