ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Qualification scenarios for Afghanistan, Australia and South Africa after match 8, AFG vs ENG

Afghanistan defeated England by eight runs in the eighth match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is nearing the end of the group stage. The tournament has lived up to the hype, delivering some high-scoring contests.

From Group A, India and New Zealand have emerged as two of the strongest teams in the competition, securing a spot in the semi-finals with two wins from two games each.

The situation in Group B is far more complex, with multiple possibilities heading into the last two fixtures in the group. The group has come alive after Afghanistan’s thrilling eight-run victory over England in Lahore on February 26.

In this article, we will take a look at the qualification scenarios for teams in Group B after the conclusion of the Afghanistan-England contest on February 26.

ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Semi-finals qualification scenarios for Group B teams after match 8, AFG vs ENG

Australia

Australia currently sit second in the Group B standings with three points from two games. They can secure a semi-final spot with a win over Afghanistan in their last group-stage fixture on February 28, which will take them to five points.

However, if they lose to Afghanistan, they will end up with three points and have to hope that England defeat South Africa by a big margin in their last group-stage encounter, so that both Australia and South Africa finish the group stage with three points each, allowing them to qualify based on NRR.

If their game against Afghanistan ends without a result, they will end up with four points and qualify for the semi-finals.

South Africa

South Africa currently top the Group B standings with three points in two games and have one game left in the group-stage, which will be played against England on March 1 in Karachi. Before that, Australia and Afghanistan will face-off in the penultimate game of Group B.

For South Africa to qualify for the semi-finals, they have to defeat England in their last match of the group stage. A victory in that game will take their tally to five points. If their last group-stage fixture against England gets washed out, they will end up having four points and make it to the semi-finals.

If they lose their last group-stage fixture against England, they’ll have to depend on Afghanistan to defeat Australia in their encounter, which will take place a day before the Proteas’ last group-stage match.

Afghanistan

With two points from two games, Afghanistan currently are placed third in Group B standings and have no choice but to defeat Australia in their last group-stage match in Lahore on February 28 to qualify for the semi-finals. A win will take them to four points, edging past Australia’s tally of three to reach the semi-finals.

A defeat against Australia or a washout due to rain will end their campaign in the tournament.

England

Back to back defeats against Australia and Afghanistan means England have been knocked out of the tournament.

England have struggled in their last two ICC ODI tournaments. They finished seventh in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 in India before their disappointing performance in Champions Trophy 2025.

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