Azmatullah Omarzai deserved to be Player of the Match against England: Mohammad Kaif

Ibrahim Zadran was the star of the show in the Match 8 of the Champions Trophy 2025 between England and Afghanistan, as the latter emerged victorious by 8 runs in a last-over thriller. Zadran's 177-run knock set the tone for the Afghans as they were able to post 325/7 in 50 overs, despite losing their three wickets inside the powerplay.

The other batter who played a key part in the first innings was Azmatullah Omarzai, involving in a crucial partnership with Zadran where he himself added 41 runs off just 31 deliveries. Later in the match, Omarzai picked five wickets in the second innings, while also bowling the crucial last over, which got the Afghans over the finishing line in a do-or-die encounter.

Former India cricketer, Mohammad Kaif, said that Omarzai was the true Player of the Match despite Zadran's impeccable knock. Kaif believes that Omarzai's runs and five wickets with the ball were more important than Zadran's blitz with the bat, since he made all-round contributions.

“My Man of the Match is Azmatullah Omarzai. He took five wickets on a pitch that had nothing for the fast bowlers. England almost won the game and he proved to be the difference in the end. Omarzai also scored runs for the team. Five wickets are more important than the runs posted by Zadran,” Mohammad Kaif said during the post-match show on Sports18.

Also Read: Funniest Memes from AFG vs ENG, Match 8

Wahab Riaz agrees with Kaif

Meanwhile, Wahab Riaz who was also a part of the post-match show panel, agreed with Kaif's statement. The former Pakistan cricketer said that Omarzai took the key wickets of Joe Root, Jos Buttler, and Phil Salt, that was the backbone of England's batting line-up, and then in the last over, he drew the last blood with the dismissal of Adil Rashid. The former pacer said that the surface at Lahore had very less to offer for pacers, and what Omarzai did was exceptional.

“I agree with Kaif Bhai. Azmatullah Omarzai was sensational with the bat and his stand with Ibrahim Zadran was crucial for the team. He dismissed Phil Salt, Jos Buttler, Joe Root, Adil Rashid and Jamie Overton. Everyone is scoring a hundred on his Lahore pitch but it is rare that a bowler has taken five wickets. There was nothing for the fast bowlers over here as the ball was not swinging at all,” he said.