Both sides are winless and looking for win to keep their hopes alive in champions trophy 2025. Afghanistan lost their first match against South Africa, while England lost their first match against Australia after they were failed to defend big total of 352. After yesterday game being washout between Australia and South Africa this is effectively the Knockout clash between the two sides.
The pitch at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore is recognized for being favorable for the batters, providing good pace and bounce while offering minimal seam movement for fast bowlers. Although spinners may find some turn, the surface predominantly benefits batters.
In the initial stages, fast bowlers can generate some movement, making the new-ball phase particularly important. However, as the ball wears down, scoring runs becomes easier, setting the stage for a high-scoring match. Considering the conditions, the toss-winning captain might prefer to bowl first.
The weather forecast for today’s match at Lahore for the England and Afghanistan game will be a clear day there is no prediction for rain.