ICC Champions Trophy 2025: How can Afghanistan still qualify for semi-finals?

Rain disrupted the highly anticipated Group B fixture between Afghanistan and Australia in the 2025 Champions Trophy on Friday. The match, which was scheduled to take place in the second innings, was abruptly called off due to adverse weather conditions, leaving no room for a result. As a consequence, the game’s cancellation meant that Australia secured their spot in the semi-finals without any further action required on the field. The unexpected interruption dealt a heavy blow to Afghanistan’s hopes of advancing in the tournament. With the match not proceeding, Australia’s qualification for the knockout stage was assured, having accumulated enough points to guarantee their place.

However, for Afghanistan, the situation was far more grim. The abandoned game left them with slim chances of making it to the semi-finals, and their chances of progression are now hanging by a thread. This result has significantly hindered Afghanistan’s hopes, putting them in a precarious position as they now face the very real possibility of elimination from the competition.

The rain-induced no-result has shifted the balance in Group B, giving Australia a free pass to the next stage, while Afghanistan now faces a desperate situation. With limited games remaining and the points table closing in, the Afghan team will need to rely on other results going their way to keep their hopes alive in the competition. It’s a tough setback, and Afghanistan’s path to the semi-finals now seems increasingly uncertain.

Afghanistan’s hopes of reaching the semi-finals now hinge on a miracle, with their qualification prospects looking increasingly slim. To stay in contention, they need England to secure a significant victory over South Africa. Specifically, if England bats first, Afghanistan’s chances would remain alive if England beats South Africa by a margin of 207 runs. Such a large margin of victory would be crucial in shifting the points table in Afghanistan’s favor.

However, if England bats second, the situation becomes even more complicated. In this scenario, Afghanistan requires England to chase down South Africa's total in just 11.1 overs, assuming that the first innings total is 300 runs for both teams. This would be an incredibly challenging task, as it demands a rapid chase at an exceptional run rate, pushing the limits of the game’s usual pace. The combination of these highly unlikely outcomes creates a tense and desperate scenario for Afghanistan. The team must now rely on a series of improbable events to stay alive in the tournament, and even then, their fate remains uncertain. With the semi-finals in sight, Afghanistan’s future in the Champions Trophy rests on the slimmest of margins.

England, already eliminated from the tournament, will face South Africa in their final Group B match on Saturday in Karachi. On Friday, Afghanistan posted a total of 273 in their 50 overs in the first innings, thanks to a brilliant 85-run knock from Sediqullah Atal off 95 balls. Azmatullah Omarzai also contributed with a half-century, scoring 67 off 63 balls. For Australia, Ben Dwarshuis was the standout bowler, claiming three wickets, while Adam Zampa and Spencer Johnson both took two wickets each.

In reply, Australia was well on track, reaching 109/1 in just 12.5 overs before rain intervened and the match was called off. The weather disruption meant no result could be reached, and Australia had already secured qualification for the semi-finals. Afghanistan, however, is left in a precarious position, with their hopes of advancing almost entirely dependent on other teams’ results.