England (Playing XI): Philip Salt, Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith(w), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler(c), Liam Livingstone, Jofra Archer, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood

Afghanistan (Playing XI): Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi(c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi

Afghanistan have won the toss and opted to bat first against England.

England and Afghanistan have a clear but challenging path to the semi-finals, win both of their remaining games. Still searching for their first points, either team can finish with four points if they secure back-to-back victories, potentially eliminating one of Australia or South Africa.

However, if England and Afghanistan manage just one win each, Australia and South Africa will advance to the knockouts, joining India and New Zealand from Group A.

The Afghanistan vs England is not simply a cricket match. The February 26 Champions Trophy fixture in Lahore is accompanied by political baggage, with England playing despite demands for a boycott from more than 160 British politicians.

The protest follows the Taliban’s ongoing prohibition on women playing sport, a move contrary to ICC rules. Afghanistan’s men’s team, though, remains eligible to play, preserving the cricketing relationship.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) made the decision to play following talks with the UK government, ICC, and players, but the political controversy surrounding the backdrop has ensured that this match is anything but simple.

The argument has raged for weeks, putting an added layer of tension on a game that already has enormous stakes in the tournament.

Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi(c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Ikram Alikhil, Nangeyalia Kharote, Naveed Zadran

England: Philip Salt, Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith(w), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler(c), Liam Livingstone, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood, Jamie Overton, Rehan Ahmed, Saqib Mahmood, Tom Banton, Gus Atkinson

Hi, cricket lovers. Hope you’re all good. We’re here with another live blog, and today it’s Afghanistan taking on England in an ICC Champions Trophy Group B match. The game begins at 2:30 PM IST. Keep following for updates.