Afghanistan's dream of making it to the Champions Trophy 2025 semi-finals came to an abrupt end on March 1, as South Africa’s dominant bowling display against England ensured their elimination. England, struggling with the bat yet again, were bowled out for just 179 runs in 38.2 overs at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi. This result guaranteed semi-final spots for South Africa and Australia, effectively ending Afghanistan’s hopes, as they had been banking on England to win by a massive margin.
Group B, which featured Afghanistan, Australia, South Africa, and England, was intensely competitive, with rain interruptions playing a crucial role in determining the standings. Except for England, all three teams were in contention for a semi-final spot until the final match. However, Afghanistan’s fate took a hit when their match against Australia was washed out on February 28, leaving them tied with South Africa on three points. This meant they had to rely on England to defeat South Africa by at least 207 runs to advance.
The scenarios for Afghanistan’s qualification were complicated. If South Africa had fielded first, they would have needed to lose by a margin of 207 runs or more for Afghanistan to progress. If South Africa had batted first, England would have needed to chase:
- 173 runs in 15 overs
- 157 runs in 14 overs
- 142 runs in 13 overs, and so on
However, none of these permutations mattered in the end, as England's disastrous batting display rendered the required margin impossible. Jos Buttler’s side, playing his final match as England’s white-ball captain, continued their reckless approach, with most batters throwing their wickets away. Joe Root top-scored with 37 off 44 balls, but the lack of partnerships and stability meant England crumbled yet again.
This result means the Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final lineup mirrors that of the ODI World Cup 2023, with India, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa making it to the final four. In the previous World Cup, Australia had defeated South Africa in the semis, while India got past New Zealand to reach the final. As the knockout stages approach, the top teams will be looking to make their mark in another high-stakes tournament.
