Azmatullah Omarzai deserves to be Player of the Match vs England: Mohammad Kaif

In the last over of the Champions Trophy 2025 match between Afghanistan and England, the latter won by 8 runs, with Ibrahim Zadran being the star of the show. The Afghans managed to reach 325/7 in 50 overs, despite losing three wickets during the powerplay, because to Zadran’s 177-run performance.

The other batsman who contributed significantly to the first innings was Azmatullah Omarzai, who joined Zadran in a vital partnership and scored 41 runs off of just 31 deliveries. Omarzai bowled the final over that saw the Afghans cross the finish line in a game that was a do-or-die situation, and he later claimed five wickets in the second innings.

Mohammad Kaif, a former cricket player for India, claimed that despite Zadran’s flawless knock, Azmatullah Omarzai was the real MVP.

Kaif thinks that because Omarzai contributed in all areas, his runs and five wickets with the ball were more significant than Zadran’s blitz with the bat.

I have Azmatullah Omarzai as my Man of the Match. He claimed five wickets on a ground that offered fast bowlers nothing. In the end, he proved to be the difference that kept England from winning the match. Omarzai scored runs for the team as well. “Mohammad Kaif stated on the Sports18 post-match broadcast that five wickets are more significant than Zadran’s runs.

Kaif and Wahab Riaz both agree.

Wahab Riaz, who was also on the panel for the post-match presentation, concurred with Kaif’s assertion. After taking the crucial wickets of Joe Root, Jos Buttler, and Phil Salt—the core of England’s batting lineup—Omarzai drew the final blood with the dismissal of Adil Rashid in the final over, according to the former Pakistani cricket player. According to the former pacer, Omarzai’s performance was extraordinary, and the surface in Lahore had virtually little to give pacers.

“I concur with Kaif Bhai.” With the bat, Azmatullah Omarzai was exceptional, and the squad relied heavily on his partnership with Ibrahim Zadran. He fired Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jos Buttler, and Phil Salt. It is uncommon for a bowler to take five wickets on his Lahore pitch, where everyone is hitting 100. He stated, “The ball was not swinging at all, so there was nothing for the fast bowlers over here.”