The washout of the Australia vs. South Africa game in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has injected fresh suspense into the semi-finals race for Group B.
With India and New Zealand already securing their semi-final spots from Group A, the focus has now shifted to the four teams in Group B, all still vying for a place in the knockout stage.
The abandoned match means both Australia and South Africa split points, placing them at three points each. Here’s what this scenario means for each team’s qualification chances:
- South Africa: Currently topping the group with a superior Net Run Rate (NRR), the Proteas are well-positioned to progress. A win against England in their final game will confirm their semi-final spot. Even if they lose, they can still advance if England doesn’t win both of their remaining games.
- Australia: The two-time Champions Trophy winners control their own destiny. A victory against Afghanistan in their final fixture will see them through to the semi-finals. A loss would require South Africa to beat England for Australia to progress.
- England: Jos Buttler and Co. face a knockout scenario. After losing their opener to Australia, England must win their remaining two matches to qualify. Their game against Afghanistan on Wednesday is crucial to their hopes.
- Afghanistan: At the bottom of Group B, Afghanistan must win both of their remaining games against England and Australia to have any shot at qualifying.
With each upcoming game in Group B essentially a knockout match, the race to the semi-finals has become more intense and unpredictable.
Stay tuned as the battle for the last two semi-final spots unfolds in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025! 🏏
