Qualification Scenarios for Afghanistan, Australia & South Africa in ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Afghanistan holds a chance to qualify for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semi-finals after their win against England. They must beat Australia next to advance. Australia also needs a win to secure its place, while South Africa, positioned favorably, only requires a win against England. The scenarios become more complex in case of a match washout.

Afghanistan remains in contention for a semi-final spot in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 following a narrow victory against England, winning by eight runs at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. This defeat for England effectively eliminates them from the tournament, leaving Afghanistan, Australia, and South Africa to compete for the remaining two semi-final places in Group B.

For Afghanistan, the path to qualification is direct: they must defeat Australia on February 28. A loss will lead to their elimination, allowing Australia and South Africa to advance. Additionally, if the match is canceled due to weather, Australia and South Africa will automatically qualify.

Australia’s scenario closely mirrors that of Afghanistan; they too must secure a victory over Afghanistan to ensure their progression to the knockouts. However, if they lose by a narrow margin, they rely on England defeating South Africa by a significant amount to lower South Africa’s net run rate, which currently sits at +2.140.

South Africa holds the advantageous position in Group B. They will have clarity regarding their requirements as their match against England will follow the Afghanistan-Australia clash. A win against England will secure their semi-final berth, and even with a loss, they must avoid a substantial defeat. A washout also guarantees their progression to the next round.

If both the Afghanistan-Australia and South Africa-England matches are abandoned due to rain, Australia and South Africa will advance from Group B without further contest.

In summary, Afghanistan must defeat Australia for a chance to advance, while Australia shares similar stakes. South Africa, however, enjoys a more favorable position, needing only a win or a draw against England to confirm their semi-final spot. The upcoming matches will be crucial in determining which teams progress from the group stage.

Original Source: www.cricket.com