Afghanistan’s Champions Trophy Dream Fades as Weather Plays Spoilsport Again
March 1, 2025: Rain once again disrupted the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, as the highly anticipated Group B clash between Afghanistan and Australia in Lahore was abandoned on Friday. With both teams sharing a point each, Australia secured a semifinal berth, while Afghanistan’s road to the final four became nearly impossible.
Australia Through, Afghanistan Hangs by a Thread
With this outcome, Australia finished with four points from three matches, enough to guarantee them a semifinal spot. Afghanistan, on the other hand, remains mathematically alive, but their qualification now depends entirely on the South Africa vs. England clash in Karachi.
Also Read: Champions Trophy 2025: Australia Secure Semi-Finals Spot as Rain Ends Afghanistan’s Hopes
Afghanistan’s Slim Qualification Chance
Afghanistan and South Africa are currently tied at three points each, but the Proteas have a significantly better Net Run Rate (+2.140 compared to Afghanistan’s -0.990). If South Africa defeats England, they will top Group B, officially eliminating Afghanistan.
Even if South Africa loses, Afghanistan’s qualification chances remain highly improbable. The only scenario where Afghanistan advances is if England beats South Africa by a margin of at least 207 runs—a near-impossible feat.
Also Read: “Shubman Gill’s Batting is Pure Class” – Shikhar Dhawan Praises India’s Young Stars
England Officially Out, India & New Zealand Battle for Top Spot
Meanwhile, England has been officially knocked out after suffering consecutive losses in their first two matches.
From Group A, India and New Zealand have already sealed their semifinal spots and will face each other on Sunday in Dubai to determine who finishes as the top-ranked team in their group.
Upcoming Fixtures:
- South Africa vs. England – Feb 29 (Karachi)
- India vs. New Zealand – March 2 (Dubai)
- Semifinals – March 4 & 5
- Final – March 9
ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Points Table (Updated after AFG vs AUS)
Group B
| Team | Matches | Won | Lost | Points | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇦🇺 Australia (Q) | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | +0.475 |
| 🇿🇦 South Africa | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | +2.140 |
| 🇦🇫 Afghanistan | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -0.990 |
| 🏴 England | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | -0.305 |
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