Afghanistan’s semifinal hopes faced a setback when their match against Australia was rained out, marking the third washout in the tournament. Australia secured a spot in the semifinals, while Afghanistan sits second in their group. Their qualification now hinges on a crucial match between England and South Africa, requiring a substantial win by England for Afghanistan to advance despite their less favorable net run rate.
Afghanistan’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions Trophy 2025 semifinals suffered a setback when their final group-stage match against Australia was abandoned due to rain at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on February 28. This washout marked the third instance in this tournament where matches were disrupted by weather conditions, previously occurring in Rawalpindi. At the time of the cancellation, the Australian team was performing well in their pursuit of 274 runs, having reached 109 runs for the loss of one wicket.
Australia’s advancement to the semifinals has been confirmed for the first time since 2009, following their shared point with Afghanistan due to the no-result, bringing Australia’s total to four points, placing them atop Group B. Conversely, Afghanistan remains second in the group with three points, on par with South Africa, although the latter has a match remaining. The outcome of that match is crucial, as it will determine Afghanistan’s fate in the tournament.
Afghanistan’s qualification is reliant on a significant outcome from the upcoming match between England and South Africa. Each team holds three points, but Afghanistan’s current net run rate stands at -0.990 compared to South Africa’s +2.140. To qualify, England must win against South Africa by a considerable margin, thus allowing Afghanistan to potentially edge ahead in the points table. As calculated, England would need to win by at least 207 runs if they bat first or successfully chase a target of 300 within 11.1 overs to significantly impact South Africa’s net run rate.
In summary, Afghanistan’s chance for semifinal qualification in the Champions Trophy relies on a favorable outcome from the match between England and South Africa. They require England to secure a significant victory to compensate for their inferior net run rate relative to South Africa. As the tournament progresses, the performance of these upcoming matches will be pivotal for Afghanistan’s hopes of advancement. The situation remains tense as all teams approach their final group-stage fixtures.
Original Source: www.indiatvnews.com
