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Rashid Khan shines as Invincibles cruise to victory in The Hundred opener
The Afghan leg-spinner picked up three wickets for just 11 runs in a clinical 20-ball spell, earning him the Player of the Match award
Rashid Khan delivered a dazzling performance for Oval Invincibles as they opened their 2025 Hundred Men’s campaign with a dominant six-wicket win over London Spirit at Lord’s on Tuesday night.
The Afghan leg-spinner picked up three wickets for just 11 runs in a clinical 20-ball spell, earning him the Player of the Match award. His display dismantled London Spirit’s middle order and underlined his reputation as one of the most dangerous bowlers in world cricket.
“Really happy with the performance today,” Rashid said after the match. “I have had a long break from cricket but I am really happy with how today went.”
He added: “It is always important to bring fresh skills. You have to hit the right area consistently and that was always in my mind. It is an honour to play for this team. They are the reigning champions two years in a row. I am looking forward to this whole experience and making it three in a row.”
The Spirit, featuring marquee names like David Warner and Kane Williamson, never settled into their innings. After losing the toss and being put in to bat, they were bowled out for just 80 in 94 balls—the second-lowest total in the men’s competition’s history.
Rashid’s spin was too much for the batters, as was the variation from Sam Curran, who also took three wickets, conceding just 18 runs. Tom Curran and Adam Zampa offered tight support, ensuring London Spirit never found momentum.
Former England fast bowler Steven Finn, speaking on BBC Two, described Rashid as a nightmare for batters: “What makes Rashid Khan challenging to face is the pace that he bowls at. He is always on you much quicker than you think. The ball is so flat and quick out of his hand, and many batters struggled to pick him up.”
Chasing a modest target, Oval Invincibles coasted to 84 for 4 in 13.4 overs. Openers Will Jacks (24) and Tawanda Muyeye (18) gave a steady start before Sam Billings (20 not out) and Donovan Ferreira saw them comfortably across the line with 31 balls to spare.
Sam Curran praised the team’s all-round effort. “We got off to a great start. Losing the toss, we were going to bat first as well. The guys bowled well. Having Rashid Khan on our side is special, he is the best in the world.”
Curran, who experimented with his variations on a slow Lord’s surface, added: “There are guys I target, and guys I definitely won’t be targeting! Being in an environment where you can experiment is fun and so important.”
With this convincing win, Oval Invincibles Men’s team — who lifted the title in 2023 and 2024—have made a strong early statement about their ambitions to secure a third crown. London Spirit, meanwhile, will need to regroup quickly after a disappointing showing in front of a home crowd.
The Invincibles next face Trent Rockets later this week as The Hundred Men’s Competition 2025 continues across England and Wales.
Coming Up Next:
Wednesday, August 6, will see Manchester Originals take on Southern Brave and the Emirates Old Trafford stadium in Manchester from 9.30pm Kabul time.
Cricket fans across Afghanistan can once again tune in to Ariana Television to watch the match live.
The International Crisis Group has warned that tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan have reached a dangerous stage, cautioning that without a return to dialogue, more deadly violence appears inevitable.
In its recent statement, the group said last week’s strike on a Kabul hospital marked a major escalation, significantly raising the level of conflict between the two neighbors. Analysts note that exchanges of airstrikes and artillery fire have pushed already fragile relations toward a direct confrontation, raising the risk of a wider regional crisis.
The attack on the 2,000-bed drug rehabilitation hospital in Kabul killed over 400 people and wounded 265, intensifying international concern. Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of allowing militant groups, particularly the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), to operate from its territory—claims that Kabul rejects. Afghan officials, in turn, describe Pakistan’s attacks as violations of national sovereignty and “unjustifiable.”
The Crisis Group said that all the signs point to a spiral of escalating violence that promises much expenditure of firepower but little reward for Pakistan.
“But the fighting has further isolated Afghanistan on the international stage. While many foreign capitals conveyed condolences to the Afghan people after the 16 March strike, few foreign powers have condemned Pakistan’s military actions, and the calls on Kabul to restrain the militants based on its territory have grown louder,” it said.
The group said that foreign support is urgently needed to help Islamabad and Kabul find a way to overcome their mutual mistrust and address the threats from militants groups that both states are grappling with. “Unless the two neighbours return to dialogue, more deadly violence seems inevitable,” it added.
Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesman of the Islamic Emirate, said that a mortar shell of the Pakistani military regime hit Shanpat area of Nari district of Kunar province at 9:30 am on Sunday, killing one civilian and wounding another.
The injured person is a woman, he said.
Pakistani forces also opened fire on a civilian vehicle in Shakin district of Paktika province, but no casualties were reported, Fitrat said.
The Pakistani government had earlier announced that it would halt its attacks on Afghanistan until Monday night on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr.
Germany was not informed of the appointment of a new Afghan diplomat in Berlin, according to a report by public broadcaster ARD, raising fresh questions about the Islamic Emirate’s expanding control over overseas missions.
The report states that an IEA-linked official has assumed the role of chargé d’affaires at Afghanistan’s embassy in Berlin without prior approval from the German government. Under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, host countries must consent to such diplomatic appointments.
Germany does not formally recognize the IEA government, which returned to power in August 2021 following the withdrawal of US and NATO forces.
Undisclosed leadership role
According to ARD, the official—identified as Nebrasul H.—arrived in Berlin in July last year as a junior consular staff member, a position approved by German authorities. However, documents obtained by the broadcaster suggest he was also quietly appointed to lead the embassy.
He is reportedly acting as chargé d’affaires, effectively heading the mission and liaising directly with Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry in Kabul.
The move highlights the IEA’s efforts to consolidate authority over Afghan diplomatic missions abroad, despite lacking broad international recognition.
Berlin ‘not notified’
Germany’s Foreign Ministry said it had received “no notification of any personnel changes” at Afghan diplomatic missions in the country.
Berlin has consistently maintained that Afghan embassies should remain under representatives appointed by the former government of Ashraf Ghani, which was ousted in 2021.
Previous envoy sidelined
The report also claims that the previous head of mission, Abdul P., has been stripped of his authority and reduced to a largely symbolic role. He was originally appointed under the Ghani administration.
Despite being sidelined, he remains in Berlin, reportedly continuing to live in the ambassador’s residence and retaining diplomatic privileges.
Wider diplomatic shift
In a related development, ARD reported that another Afghan official who arrived alongside Nebrasul H. has assumed a leadership role at the Afghan consulate in Bonn, also without formal recognition from German authorities.
The developments suggest a broader strategy by the IEA to assert control over Afghanistan’s diplomatic presence in Europe, even in countries that do not officially recognize its rule.
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