Afghanistan’s hopes to qualify for the Champions Trophy 2025 semi-finals greatly dim after their match with Australia was washed out, leading to Australia’s qualification. They now require England to defeat South Africa by 207 runs, or chase a target within 11.1 overs, to have any chance of progressing further. The Afghan captain expressed disappointment but remains hopeful.
Afghanistan faces a daunting challenge to qualify for the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy 2025 after their match against Australia was abandoned due to rain. This unfortunate turn of events means that Australia has secured their place in the semi-finals while Afghanistan’s hopes hang by a thread. To advance, Afghanistan requires an improbable scenario where England must defeat South Africa by 207 runs, or if chasing, they must achieve the target within 11.1 overs if batting first.
In their last Group B match on Friday, Afghanistan put forth a commendable effort, scoring 273 runs. Sediqullah Atal contributed significantly with 85 runs off 95 balls, while Azmatullah Omarzai also shone with a half-century, scoring 67 from 63 balls. However, their efforts were met with resilience from the Australian bowling attack as Ben Dwarshuis took three wickets, supported by Adam Zampa and Spencer Johnson, who each claimed two wickets. The Australian chase was halted at 109 for 1 in 12.5 overs.
Following the washout, Afghan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi expressed his disappointment, emphasizing that the game was unfortunate not to have a result. He noted, “Was a good game. I think we should have scored 300+, but they bowled well in the middle overs. 270 was a good score but we did not start well with the ball.” He further praised Atal and Omarzai for their performances, acknowledging that there is still hope for Afghanistan if England can win their upcoming match decisively.
In summary, Afghanistan’s path to the Champions Trophy 2025 semi-finals appears extremely challenging following a rain-abandoned match against Australia. With qualification contingent on an extraordinary result from England’s match against South Africa, they must now hope for significant victories to keep their hopes alive. Despite the setback, Afghanistan remains steadfast in their resolve, as confirmed by their captain’s reflections on the match.
Original Source: www.hindustantimes.com
