England has been eliminated from the 2025 Champions Trophy, allowing Afghanistan, Australia, and South Africa to continue competing for qualification. Afghanistan is set to play against Australia on Friday, February 28, while South Africa will take on England on Saturday, March 1. India and New Zealand have already secured their spots in the semi-finals, scheduled for March 4 and 5.
New Delhi: England was eliminated from the 2025 Champions Trophy following a loss to Afghanistan in a crucial Group B match on Wednesday (February 23) at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. The emerging Asian team secured victory in a nail-biting finish, winning by eight runs to keep their tournament hopes alive.
Following two consecutive losses, including a five-wicket defeat against Australia, England is no longer in contention for a semi-final spot. As the final two league matches approach—Australia facing Afghanistan on February 28 in Lahore and South Africa competing against England on March 1 in Karachi—three teams remain in the running for qualification.
Afghanistan’s qualification scenario:
Afghanistan will face Australia under circumstances akin to their previous match against England, as they find themselves in another crucial encounter. A victory for the team led by Hasmatullah Shahidi would secure their place in the semi-finals of an ICC tournament for the second consecutive time. Conversely, a loss would result in their elimination. In the event of a rainout, their chances of advancing would diminish significantly, requiring England to defeat South Africa by an unfeasible large margin.
Australia’s qualification scenario:
Australia must secure a victory against Afghanistan to advance, as they currently hold three points. Their Net Run Rate (+0.475) is considerably lower than that of South Africa, meaning they will require England to achieve a substantial win over the Proteas to qualify in the event of a loss to Afghanistan. Additionally, Australia will qualify if the match is canceled due to weather conditions.
South Africa’s qualification scenario:
South Africa’s impressive Net Run Rate of +2.140, along with three points already accumulated, indicates that they are nearly assured of qualification. The team, led by Temba Bavuma, is expected to reach the semi-finals even if they lose to England. They will likely advance to the knockout stages unless they experience a significant defeat, which is considered unlikely.
India and New Zealand from Group A have secured their spots in the group stage, with their upcoming match scheduled for Sunday, March 2.
In Group B, South Africa secured a victory against Afghanistan, while Australia triumphed over England. Additionally, the match between South Africa and Afghanistan was canceled due to rain.
