RAWALPINDI (Kashmir English): Australia and South Africa will be in search of their second consecutive win in the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 as they clash with each other at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium here today (Tuesday).
Pakistan’s ICC Champions Trophy campaign, however, officially come to an end Monday night after New Zealand outshined Bangladesh in the group-stage match of the tournament, which runs until March 9.
With two defeats in as many matches, the hosts’ chances to make it to the semi-finals of tournament had become bleak and dependent on the outcomes of the remaining Group A matches.
But New Zealand’s win over Bangladesh denied them any chance of advancing further in the competition.
Despite being knocked out of the Champions Trophy 2025 semi-finals race, Pakistan will play Bangladesh in their last group-stage match on February 27 in Rawalpindi.
New Zealand and India are the first two teams to qualify for the semi-finals of the ongoing tournament.
Kiwis and India won first two of their respective matches with Pakistan losing both. Pakistan will face Bangladesh in its last match on February 27.
Both South Africa and New Zealand have won their first games quite easily with South Africa thumping Afghanistan by 107 runs at National Stadium Karachi on February 21 (Friday) and Australia defeating England by five wickets at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore on February 22 (Saturday).
South Africa ended a streak of six successive defeats in ODI format with a comprehensive win over Afghanistan on Friday. Australia had lost four ODIs in a row before beating England in their first appearance in the event on Saturday.
Australia had won the last match played between the two sides in the 2023 Cricket World Cup semi-final.
The Group B match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will start at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium at 2:00 pm PST.
Wins by 107 runs over Afghanistan and five wickets over England mean South Africa and Australia are both in strong positions ahead of this Group B clash scheduled for today. Cricket between these two sides is rarely dull as both like to play hard.
Australia and South Africa are in a battle to top the group as both are in the semis.
It is South Africa who have had the upper-hand over recent years in ODIs though and they will be looking for their 16th win from their last 20 head to heads against Australia.
The ICC tournament officially got underway on February 19 with hosts Pakistan playing against New Zealand in the tournament opener at the National Stadium in Karachi.
Eight teams are competing for the Champions Trophy 2025 title. India, Pakistan, New Zealand and Bangladesh have been placed in Group A while England, Afghanistan, Australia and South Africa are clubbed in Group B.
Champions Trophy format
A total of 15 matches will be played in this year’s tournament, including both group and knockout fixtures.
The two teams having higher points from each group after the round-robin matches will qualify for the semi-finals.
In case that teams finish level on points, the side with more wins will advance to the last four. If still there is no clear position, net run rate will come into play as a tie-breaker.
As the tournament advances towards the final stage, injury concerns have hit England camp as right-arm pacer Brydon Carse has been ruled out of the Champions Trophy 2025 due to a toe injury.
England have brought in spinner Rehan Ahmed who has so far picked 10 wickets in six ODI outings, to replace Brydon Carse.
England has two matches left to be played in Group B.
England are in a tight spot in Group B after losing out to Australia in their first match of the Champions Trophy.
