Simon Mann
BBC Test Match Special commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

That is a big wicket, Rahmanullah Gurbaz is a very attacking player.

Hello! Mark Wood gets up to 94mph with a beauty that nips past the outside edge of Ibrahim Zadran.

Just singles off the over again, and Afghanistan are going nowhere. Something's got to give.

Soham Sarkhel
CricViz analyst

In ODIs since the start of 2022, Afghanistan batters have averaged just 20.7 against deliveries above 140 kph (87 mph), which is the second-lowest for any participating team in this Champions Trophy (after Bangladesh). The South African pacers exploited this the other night against Afghanistan, can the English pacers do the same?

Another miserly over, just two from it, thanks to a fine piece of work from Adil Rashid at fine leg to save a boundary as Rahmanullah Gurbaz flicks one off his pads.

It's been a disciplined start from Archer and Wood, they've given nothing away. Pressure is building on the Afghanistan openers.

Vic Marks
Former England spinner on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Image source, Getty Images

There is a little bit of swing there for Mark Wood and it is a good pace. He's not quite hit 90mph yet, he's just under that, but with the ball swinging that is more than enough.

Just one scampered single from Mark Wood's first over, which is bang on the money with decent pace and a hint of movement away from the right hander.

It still looks a good pitch to bat on, but there is some early encouragement there for England's seamers.

Jonathan Agnew
BBC Chief Cricket Commentator

Image source, Reuters

I expect us to see some fireworks from Jofra Archer and Mark Wood here. They've both got some catching up to do after their performance against Australia.

Soham Sarkhel
CricViz analyst

Teams chasing have won five out of the last nine games here in Lahore in ODIs since the start of 2022, so quite even on that front. Of course, England fans won't want to be reminded of what happened the last time they chased against Afghanistan in an ODI. The average winning total batting first here has been 317 but we have seen totals of 348 and, more recently, 351 being chased down at this venue in the last three years.

A steady start, with just four from the first over.

England are going all-out with pace as Mark Wood prepares for the second.

Vic Marks
Former England spinner on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Rahmanullah Gurbaz will score at a rate of knots if he stays in, he is a very good player.

This is not like playing Afghanistan a few years ago when you'd expect England to win comfortably.

Jofra Archer will take the opening over, and the first ball is calmly dabbed to deep third for a single as Rahmanullah Gurbaz gets Afghanistan under way.

Matthew Henry
BBC Sport in Lahore

We're told to expect a sell out today despite the small number of fans currently in the ground.

With a large Afghan population in Pakistan, it's no surprise there are a lot of Afghanistan flags to be seen already.

It'll likely fill up later on but at the start there's going to be a lot of support for Hashmatullah Shahidi's side.

This is a match that has gained plenty of attention off the field for quite a while. In January, nearly 200 UK politicians demanded that England boycott the game in response to the Taliban's actions regarding women's rights in the country.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) criticised the International Cricket Council (ICC) response, but rejected the call of a boycott.

The Afghanistan men's team has been allowed to continue to compete on the world stage, despite the banning of its women's team being an apparent breach of ICC regulations.

Female participation in sport has effectively been outlawed in Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, and most of their women's side fled to Australia where they still live.

• Read more about the background of the boycott and the debate
• Read more about the Afghanistan women's team who refuse to be silenced

Vic Marks
Former England spinner on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Image source, Getty Images

It is interesting that Jos Buttler said he would have batted first despite what happened with the dew the other day.

There will be a couple of reasons for that. It does get tense when chasing in games like this and Afghanistan really don't like chasing. They have three very good spinners who can defend a total. They are the sort of players that can torment players that are under pressure.

England: Phil Salt, Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith (wk), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (capt), Liam Livingstone, Jamie Overton, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood.

Afghanistan: Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (capt), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi.

Matthew Henry
BBC Sport in Lahore

It's a cloudy but warm and sunny day in Lahore and things get serious for England from here.

Skipper Jos Buttler admitted to us last night that the stakes are high in this game with regards to his future as captain.

England have had two disappointing white-ball tournaments in a row. Lose today and they will be out of another.

England will be bowling first as Hashmatullah Shahidi wins the toss, and decides to set a target.

Batting second seemed to favour Australia with the dew in England's first match on the weekend, so it'll be interesting to see whether that plays a part again.

We already knew that Brydon Carse was out for England, so Jamie Overton comes in to the XI.

Good morning!

Normal service is resumed after yesterday's Group A washout, as it is raining in the UK but dry and sunny in Pakistan for England's must-win encounter with Afghanistan.

The equation is simple for Jos Buttler's side - win both remaining games and they are into the semi-finals.

We'll bring you the team news and result of the toss next.