Afghanistan and Australia are set to lock horns in an all-important Group B clash in the ICC Champion Trophy 2025 today at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, with a semifinal place at stake.
Australia and South Africa are both on three points after a win apiece and a washout. While the Aussies beat England by five wickets, the Proteas crushed Afghanistan by 107 runs. And, the clash between the two heavyweights in Rawalpindi was abandoned without a ball bowled.
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Afghanistan, on the other hand, are fresh from a stunning eight-run win over England, and knocking them out of the tournament. The win was headlined by opener Ibrahim Zadran record-setting 177 and pacer Azmatullah Omarzai’s fifer.
ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Group B Afghanistan-Australia semifinal scenarios explained
The equation is simple. If Australia win the match today, they will go through to the semifinal as one of the top two teams from Group B. Afghanistan would be out of the tournament, and the match between England and South Africa would become a dead rubber, though it would decide whether the Aussies or the Proteas would occupy the top spot in the group.
But, if Afghanistan win today, they will make their second successive semifinals of an ICC tournament – the Afghans had made the last four of the T20 World Cup – in less than a year.
ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Lahore weather report for AUS vs AFG match
The weather is cloudy today in Lahore, with the venue likely to experience rain in build-up to the match. It will be a test for the drainage facilities of the Gaddafi Stadium. The forecast is better for the later half of the match though.
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A minimum of 20 overs per side match is needed to decide the winner with the cut-off time being 7pm local time (7:30pm IST).
In case of a washout, Australia would go through, while Afghanistan would crash out of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Predicted or likely playing XI for AUS vs AFG match
Australia:
Steve Smith (captain), Alex Carey, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Short, Adam Zampa, Spencer Johnson/Sean Abbott.
Afghanistan:
Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi.
