Afghanistan’s semifinal aspirations in the Champions Trophy 2025 are at risk following a rainout against Australia, leaving them with three points. They rely on England to defeat South Africa by a large margin to improve their chances for qualification, with South Africa having a higher Net Run Rate. A clear scenario must unfold for Afghanistan to progress.
Afghanistan’s hopes for the Champions Trophy 2025 semifinals were significantly impacted when their crucial match against Australia was abandoned due to rain at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on February 28. This rainout marked the third such occurrence in the tournament, following two earlier instances in Rawalpindi. At the time of the cancellation, Australia was well-positioned in their run chase, scoring 109 runs for just one wicket with notable performances from Travis Head, Matthew Short, and Steve Smith.
As a result of the match ending in a no result, both teams received one point each, placing Australia at the top of Group B with four points, thus ensuring their semifinal qualification for the first time since 2009. Afghanistan currently occupies the second position in the group with three points, level with South Africa, although they possess no games left to play. Their progression now hinges on the outcome of the upcoming South Africa vs. England match.
For Afghanistan to advance to the last four, England must achieve a decisive victory over South Africa. While both Afghanistan and South Africa are tied on points, Afghanistan’s significantly lower Net Run Rate (NRR) of -0.990 compared to South Africa’s +2.140 complicates their situation. The English team would need to win by a substantial margin to adversely affect South Africa’s NRR and allow Afghanistan to clinch the second spot in the group.
Specifically, should England bat first, they would need to win by at least 207 runs, or score their target in 11.1 overs if chasing a total of 300 runs. This highly improbable scenario is essential for Afghanistan to qualify alongside Australia from Group B, should South Africa falter in their encounter despite having shared the same point total with Afghanistan.
In summary, Afghanistan’s route to the Champions Trophy semifinals is challenging and contingent on England’s performance against South Africa. With both teams sharing three points but differing Net Run Rates, Afghanistan must rely on England securing a significant victory. If this unlikely circumstance unfolds, Afghanistan may yet secure their place in the semifinals, otherwise they will depend on South Africa’s overall performance in the series.
Original Source: www.indiatvnews.com
