Overview

• Afghanistan defeated England by eight runs, eliminating the 2019 World Cup champions from the ICC Champions Trophy.
• A win against Australia on Friday would secure Afghanistan's first-ever Champions Trophy semifinal appearance.
• Afghanistan's captain Hashmatullah Shahidi emphasized team-focused strategies over individual players like Glenn Maxwell, who previously delivered a historic performance against them.
• Australia, with three points from two games, needs at least a draw to advance, while Afghanistan must win to qualify.
• The match is set against a backdrop of political tensions between the two nations, with Australia having boycotted bilateral series against Afghanistan since 2021.