Afghanistan’s hopes for the Champions Trophy 2025 semi-finals hinge on England’s performance against South Africa following a rain-out against Australia. They need England to win by 207 runs or chase down a target within 11.1 overs to maintain qualification chances. Captaim Shahidi expressed disappointment yet emphasized the importance of learning from the match.
Afghanistan’s chances of qualifying for the Champions Trophy 2025 semi-finals dwindled after a rain-affected match against Australia ended without a result. This washout allowed Australia to secure their spot in the semi-finals, leaving Afghanistan in a precarious position. To remain in contention, Afghanistan requires England to defeat South Africa by 207 runs if they bat first. Alternatively, if England bats second, they must chase down their target within 11.1 overs, assuming a first innings score of 300.
As Afghanistan played their Group B match in Karachi, they scored 273 runs in their innings, supported by Sediqullah Atal’s 85 runs and Azmatullah Omarzai’s 67 runs. Australia’s bowling was aggressive; Ben Dwarshuis took three wickets, while Adam Zampa and Spencer Johnson contributed with two each. The match was interrupted when Australia was at 109 for 1 after just 12.5 overs.
Following the rain-out, Afghanistan’s captain, Hashmatullah Shahidi expressed disappointment, stating, “Unfortunate that the game went without a result. Was a good game. I think we should have scored 300+ but they bowled well in the middle overs.” He praised Atal’s performance, emphasizing the necessity of learning from the game to improve in future matches.
In concluding thoughts, Shahidi remained hopeful for Afghanistan’s chances, stating, “About the tournament, you never know. We still have hopes, hopefully England win big.” His remarks focus on future opportunities and a commitment to learning from their experiences in the tournament.
Afghanistan faces a significant challenge after their match against Australia ended in a washout, effectively eliminating them unless England defeats South Africa decisively. Afghanistan managed to score 273 runs, with contributions from Atal and Omarzai, but the rain disrupted their plans. Captain Shahidi remains hopeful but acknowledges the team’s need to improve and learn from their performance moving forward.
Original Source: www.hindustantimes.com
