Afghanistan’s qualification hopes for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semifinals have been left hanging in the balance after their crucial Group B clash against Australia was washed out at Gaddafi Stadium on Friday.
The no-result meant both teams shared a point each, securing Australia’s place in the semifinals while Afghanistan’s fate now hinges on the outcome of South Africa’s final group-stage match against England.
With the latest result, Australia advanced to the knockout stage with four points from three matches. Afghanistan, having registered one win, one loss, and one draw, finished their group-stage campaign with three points.
However, their progression now depends on an unlikely sequence of events in the England-South Africa encounter in Karachi on Saturday.
What Afghanistan need to qualify?
For Afghanistan to reach the semifinals, they require England to defeat South Africa by a significant margin. If England bat first, they must win by at least 207 runs.
Alternatively, if England chase, they must reach the target within 11.1 overs (assuming a first-innings total of 300).
In such a scenario, Afghanistan and South Africa will both end the group stage with three points, but Afghanistan will advance due to a superior net run rate.
However, if South Africa secure even a narrow victory over England, they will top Group B and face the loser of the India-New Zealand clash in the semifinal. A washout in Karachi would also eliminate Afghanistan, as South Africa would progress with four points alongside Australia.
Afghanistan’s hopes now rest on England’s ability to deliver an extraordinary performance against South Africa, a result that seems improbable given the Proteas’ current form. As the tournament nears its knockout stage, the spotlight shifts to Karachi, where Saturday’s match will determine the fate of the final semifinalists.
