ICC Champions Trophy 2025: How Can Afghanistan, Australia And South Africa Qualify For Semi-Finals?

Who will join India and New Zealand, from Group A, in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semi-finals? Well, it will be a three-way race in Group B, featuring Afghanistan, Australia, and South Africa. Here's a look at the qualification scenarios. (AFG Vs ENG Highlights | Full Coverage | More Cricket News)

Afghanistan defeated, or rather eliminated, England with a stunning win at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore in match 8 of the eight-team tournament. Powered by Ibrahim Zadran's competition-high score (177 off 146) and Azmatullah Omarzai's all-round show (41 off 31, 5/58), the Afghans beat England by eight runs in a high-scoring thriller.

With two games remaining in Group B, South Africa lead Australia on Net Run Rate, +2.140 to +0.475. Both teams have three points each from two matches each -- one win and a no result. Afghanistan are third with two points -- one win and one defeat, and they have an NRR of -0.990. England are winless in two outings, and they can only have a maximum of two points.

India and New Zealand, meanwhile, made it simple in Group A. Both won their respective matches so far, thus eliminating hosts Pakistan and Bangladesh from the semi-final race. India and New Zealand will meet on Sunday (March 2, 2025) to decide the group winners.

Before diving into Group B qualification scenarios, let's have a look at the two remaining group fixtures:

• Afghanistan vs Australia in Lahore on Friday

• South Africa vs England in Karachi on Saturday

These two matches will decide the two remaining semi-finalists. With that, here's a look at the five possible scenarios:

1. Australia and South Africa win

Considering the current form and historical record, Australia and South Africa will start favourites against Afghanistan and England, respectively. Win, and both teams qualify for the semis. NRR will decide who take the top spot. Aussies will need a bigger winning margin to eclipse Proteas' NRR.

2. Afghanistan and England win

Conversely, if the scenario 1 script goes haywire, Afghanistan will win the group with four points, leaving Australia and South Africa fighting for the second spot. Both will have three points each, and the team with the higher NNR will advance to the knockouts.

3. Australia and England win

In such a scenario, Australia and South Africa go through with five and three points, respectively. Afghanistan and England will end with two points each.

4. Afghanistan and South Africa win

Afghanistan, with four points, will finish second ahead of Australia, a team they almost beat in the 2023 World Cup. South Africa will top with five points.

5. Washouts

If both matches are washed out, the status quo remains. Meaning, South Africa and Australia, with four points each, advance to the semi-finals.

- If the Afghanistan vs Australia match is reduced to a no result, the Aussies will finish with four points, and will qualify for the semis irrespective of what happens in the South Africa vs England match. There's a possibility of rain in Lahore.

- If the South Africa vs England match is a no result, the Proteas will qualify with four points, joining the winners of the Afghanistan vs Australia encounter. Karachi will be mostly sunny on Saturday.