World Cup 2023, ENG vs AFG: England Set Unwanted Record to Their Name

At the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Sunday (October 15), the defending champions England succumbed to a resurgent Afghanistan. This marks a significant upset in the ongoing ICC ODI World Cup 2023. Opting to bowl first, Jos Buttler’s England struggled to contain the Afghan onslaught, resulting in a daunting target of 285 runs set by the Asian side. Despite their best efforts, England’s batting lineup faltered, ultimately managing a meagre 215 runs.

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Afghanistan’s remarkable victory showcased their team’s growing prowess on the international stage. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ikram Alikhil set the tone with their impressive innings of 80 and 58, respectively. Contributions from seasoned campaigners like Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman further bolstered Afghanistan’s score. England, the defending champions, faced the harsh reality of defeat as Afghanistan pulled off a remarkable 69-run victory.

A few joyful and happy moments of the #AfghanAtalan against England. A big and historical victory. #ENGvsAFG #CWC23 pic.twitter.com/jn3ZRZ3C6g

— Shahzad Aryobee شهزاد اریوبي (@sharyobee) October 15, 2023

England’s journey in the CWC 2023 has been far from smooth, with this defeat being their second loss in three games. While they still cling to the fifth position in the rankings, their path to the knockout stage is now fraught with uncertainty. The defeat to Afghanistan, besides tarnishing their campaign, has also etched an unwanted record in the history of the ODI World Cup.

World Cup: England Faced Defeat From All 11 Test Playing Nations

England’s stunning loss against Afghanistan marks their defeat to all 11 Test-playing nations in the history of ODI World Cups. Over the years, England has fallen to cricketing giants like Australia, India, West Indies, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Ireland, Bangladesh, and now Afghanistan.

Salute you AFGHANISTAN 🇦🇫. You have pulled offff the biggest upset in WC cricket. If not in the history of the game. Respect. @rashidkhan_19 @Mujeeb_R88 #CWC2023 #ENGvsAFG pic.twitter.com/o59wpS6Sxc

— Ravi Shastri (@RaviShastriOfc) October 15, 2023

Their journey through ODI World Cup history has been marked by unforgettable encounters, from their first-ever loss to arch-rivals Australia in the inaugural 1975 edition to their heart-wrenching defeat in the 1979 World Cup final to the formidable West Indies. The likes of India and Pakistan achieved their first victories against England in the 1983 and 1987 World Cups, respectively.

As cricketing nations continued to rise, New Zealand and South Africa secured their first wins over England in the 1992 and 1996 editions. In 1992, Zimbabwe also made their mark by thrashing England, while Sri Lanka notched up their first World Cup win over the English team in 1996.

Ireland and Bangladesh, newer entrants to the cricketing world, celebrated their first-ever World Cup victories against England in the 2011 edition. The most recent addition to this exclusive list is Afghanistan, who clinched their maiden victory over England in the current World Cup.

Now England is preparing for their upcoming match against South Africa at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on October 21. England will be eager to demonstrate their character and rediscover their winning form in the quest to defend their World Cup title.