Afghanistan’s recent victory against England has kept their semi-final hopes alive in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. To qualify, Afghanistan must defeat Australia; if Australia wins, they also qualify. South Africa, already a top contender, needs to beat England or can afford a loss by a small margin to progress. A washout in either match would favor Australia and South Africa.
Afghanistan remains in contention for a semi-final berth in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, following their narrow eight-run victory over England at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on February 26. This win has eliminated England from the tournament, leaving Afghanistan, Australia, and South Africa to vie for two semi-final spots in Group B.
To secure qualification, Afghanistan must triumph over Australia in Lahore on February 28. Any defeat would eliminate them from the tournament, allowing both Australia and South Africa to advance. A washout in their match would also mean elimination for Afghanistan, with Australia and South Africa qualifying.
Australia’s pathway to qualification is nearly identical to that of Afghanistan; they must defeat Afghanistan on February 28 to guarantee their advancement. If they lose narrowly, they would need England to achieve a significant victory over South Africa to ensure their progress, as South Africa boasts a strong net run rate of +2.140. A washout would similarly see Australia through to the semi-finals.
South Africa, positioned as the strongest team in Group B, has control over their destiny, with their match against England occurring the day after the Afghanistan-Australia game. A win would guarantee their semi-final spot, while a loss must be by a manageable margin to maintain their chances. A washout would also result in their progression.
Should both the Afghanistan-Australia and South Africa-England matches be washed out, Australia and South Africa would qualify for the knockout stage, thus securing their places in the semi-finals.
The path to the semi-finals for Afghanistan, Australia, and South Africa hinges on the outcomes of the remaining matches in Group B. Afghanistan must win against Australia to advance, while Australia also needs victory to ensure qualification. South Africa, as the top team, can confirm their spot with a win against England or progress even through a washout. Overall, the concluding matches will be crucial in determining which two teams from this group will advance.
Original Source: www.cricket.com
