AUS vs AFG: The Group B encounter between Australia and Afghanistan marks a major move for the playoff chances in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. This situation arose when the previous match between Australia and South Africa, the two teams with initial wins, ended in a no-result match as the match was abandoned due to rain.
South Africa will play their final group stage game tomorrow against England, and if rain does not have a role to play here, South Africa might be the heavyweights seeing England’s poor luck alongside form. If South Africa wins against England, they will qualify for the semis and would join the other team according to the result of today’s fixture.
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AUS vs AFG: Rain threat looms over Lahore
Rains have been a major threat in this Champions Trophy held in Pakistan after a tenure of 29 years, which marked the return of the ICC tournament to the land of Pakistan.
Pakistan finalized the likes of Karachi International Stadium, Gaddafi Stadium in Karachi, and Rawalpindi Stadium, which will be featured as the venues in this ICC Champions Trophy.
Among these, Rawalpindi has been marked as a major rain hub, as two matches have already been completely washed off due to rain. The first was a crucial fixture between Australia and South Africa, while the last was yesterday’s encounter between host team Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Now, the AUS vs AFG match scheduled to be played in Lahore is also under the threat of rainfall, which might get another crucial match abandoned, causing a significant juncture in Group B qualifications.
AUS vs AFG: Group B Qualification Scenarios if the match gets abandoned
If the AUS vs AFG match gets washed off due to rain in Lahore today, then both teams get one point each. Australia will have 4 points with a draw, while Afghanistan will also have 3 points with a draw as well.
Afghanistan can advance off to the semis alongside Australia after this scenario if England goes on to win the match against South Africa.
However, even under such a presumption, Afghanistan can qualify only if England wins by an almost ungettable margin, which reduces South Africa’s huge net run rate below that of Afghanistan’s.
However, if today’s match ends in a draw with one point each and the last game between England and South Africa goes in favour of the Proteas, then the Aussies and the Proteas advance off into the semis.
Afghanistan’s most suitable chance for qualification remains if they win against Australia today; under such a scenario, only a huge loss for South Africa can lower their run rate below Australia, which can then take Afghanistan into the semis alongside either of the teams in Group B.
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