Azmatullah Omarzai Reaches 1,000 ODI Runs in Historic Win Against England

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — Azmatullah Omarzai etched his name in the annals of cricket history, becoming the joint-third fastest Afghan to reach 1,000 One Day International (ODI) runs during Afghanistan‘s thrilling eight-run victory over England on February 26, 2025.

Omarzai achieved this landmark with his 34th run in the final league match of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy held at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. The all-rounder reached the milestone in just 31 innings over 39 matches, exhibiting an impressive average of over 45.

“It feels great to reach this milestone,” Omarzai said after the match. “It’s a testament to my hard work and the support from my teammates, coaches, and fans back home. I aim to keep improving and contribute more for Afghanistan.”

He is now among the elite group of Afghanistan players who have attained this benchmark, with only Ibrahim Zadran (24 innings) and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (27 innings) having done it faster.

In the tournament, Omarzai has been a standout performer, scoring 353 runs at an average of 70.60, becoming one of just eight players to score over 350 runs batting at No. 5 or lower in a single World Cup edition. In the match against England, he contributed significantly with both bat and ball, scoring 41 runs and claiming five wickets for 58 runs, the best-ever figures for Afghanistan in an ICC ODI tournament.

“I am proud of the team’s performance today,” Omarzai added. “I think our strategy was spot on, and we executed it beautifully against a strong side like England.”

Omarzai’s all-round prowess was pivotal to Afghanistan’s performance last year, where he was named the ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year 2024. His breakthrough performances included scoring 417 runs with an impressive average of 52.12, alongside taking 17 wickets at an average of 20.47.

In this high-stakes match, Afghanistan aggressively posted a total of 325 runs, primarily driven by Ibrahim Zadran’s remarkable innings of 177 runs, the highest individual score in Champions Trophy history. England, in response, fell short, scoring 317 runs and suffering their sixth consecutive defeat, marking a troubling period for the former World Champions.

“We know we let this one slip through our fingers,” England captain Jos Buttler expressed. “Although a brilliant innings from Joe Root kept us in the game, we simply have to find a way to win. It’s a disappointing moment for us.”

The match featured a record total of 642 runs, making it one of the highest aggregates in Champions Trophy history. Omarzai’s feat comes in the midst of a tournament where he has consistently impressed, and he now looks to continue his form into Afghanistan’s next match against Australia on February 28, 2025.