Former Indian cricketer Ajay Jadeja strongly countered Waqar Younis’ views. He emphasized that Afghanistan had won more matches than Pakistan in the last three ICC tournaments. Therefore, he argued that their victories were not just “one-off” moments but rather a sign of their growing dominance.
Afghanistan Knocks England Out of Champions Trophy 2025
Afghanistan’s victory over England officially eliminated the defending champions from the tournament. As a result, their head coach, Jonathan Trott, warned that no team should underestimate them. Meanwhile, during Dressing Room, a Ten Sports show, Waqar Younis asked Wasim Akram if Afghanistan had a realistic chance of beating Australia in their next match in Lahore.
“Absolutely,” Akram replied. Furthermore, he praised Afghanistan’s impressive performance against England. He highlighted how Ibrahim Zadran played a key role after early wickets fell. In addition, he noted their ability to defend 320 runs despite the challenging wet-ball conditions. “Yeah, Australia can make it one-sided, but if Afghanistan are on song, then they can beat any team in the world,” he added.
Jadeja Reminds Panel of Afghanistan’s Strong Record
At this point, Jadeja stepped in to remind the panel about Afghanistan’s consistent success. “They have won more games than your team, my friend, in ICC events. Anybody who thinks it’s a one-off thing is fooling themselves,” he stated.
Afghanistan’s Better ICC Record Than Pakistan
In fact, Afghanistan has secured 10 wins across the last three ICC tournaments. Notably, they won five matches in the most recent T20 World Cup and even reached the semi-finals by knocking out Australia. Moreover, in the 2023 ODI World Cup, they claimed four victories out of nine games, narrowly missing a spot in the semi-finals.
On the other hand, Pakistan has struggled significantly. In contrast to Afghanistan’s progress, Pakistan failed to move past the group stage in any of these tournaments. They managed only six wins across all three events and, ultimately, exited the Champions Trophy without winning a single match.
Akram Praises Afghanistan’s Determination
Meanwhile, Wasim Akram acknowledged Afghanistan’s remarkable hunger to win. “The best thing about that team is that whenever they come onto the field, they want to win, whether it’s batting or fielding. There’s a collective hunger to do well against the best teams in the world,” he said.
Jadeja Credits Team’s Confidence for Success
Additionally, Jadeja, who worked as Afghanistan’s consultant during the 2023 ODI World Cup, praised their mindset. “Now they believe they can get out of any situation. When you win close games, then it’s all about belief. That they have shown in this tournament,” he noted.
Afghanistan’s Must-Win Clash Against Australia
Now, Afghanistan faces a crucial match against Australia at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. If they win, they will reach the semi-finals in their first-ever Champions Trophy appearance. However, a loss will most likely end their campaign.
