AFG vs AUS, ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Match abandoned, Australia qualify for semis – What happens to Afghanistan now?

Rain has played spoilsport yet again, washing out another crucial match and sealing Australia’s place in the semi-finals with four points. Meanwhile, Afghanistan now finds itself teetering on the edge of elimination.

The equation is simple—if South Africa beats England tomorrow, they will comfortably top the group with five points. However, if England pulls off a win, both South Africa and Afghanistan will be tied at three points each, bringing Net Run Rate (NRR) into play. Unfortunately for Afghanistan, their current NRR of -0.99 makes qualification nearly impossible.

For Afghanistan to sneak into the semis, they would need South Africa to suffer an unprecedented collapse—losing by at least 207 runs while chasing a 301-run target. In other words, they need a miracle. With the odds stacked heavily against them, it looks like their tournament journey is all but over.

Kharote, the substitute fielder, has a moment to forget as he spills a straightforward chance at deep square leg, giving Short a lifeline on 19. Sprinting in, he misjudges the catch under the lights and signals his frustration. But Afghanistan doesn’t have to regret it for long—just two deliveries later, Short gifts another opportunity, and this time, Naib at mid-on makes no mistake. He pouches it cleanly, and with a triumphant flex of his muscles, celebrates the dismissal. The dropped catch costs Afghanistan just a single run, but Naib ensures there’s no second reprieve. AUS 52/1 (5)

Dwarshuis to Azmatullah – No Run! Smart bowling at 137 kph, angling it into the pitch and out wide. Azmatullah hesitates, trying to cut but mistimes it—he opts not to take the single.

And that decision pays off! Next ball – Four! Full and just outside off, Azmatullah drives it beautifully down the ground, piercing past the bowler and inside long-off, a one-bounce boundary.

Dwarshuis adjusts – pace off at 108 kph – and Azmatullah drags it to Maxwell at long-on but declines the single again.

Next delivery – Gone! Azmatullah looks to scythe it inside-out to deep cover, but it’s straight to Carey! The short ball across him had him reaching, and despite making good contact, Carey sprints in and takes a sharp catch. A fine knock comes to an end, but he has pushed Afghanistan to a respectable total on this surface.

Drama in the final moments! Swing and a miss... muted appeal from Inglis! He dives forward, claiming the catch. Not Out, says umpire Dharmasena. The batters steal a bye, but it’s sent upstairs. UltraEdge shows a spike! That’s the end!

Dwarshuis finishes with three wickets, and Afghanistan are all out for 273.

Afghanistan is in a tough spot right now after losing wickets in quick succession. Gulbadin is the latest to depart. The team has finally touched 200-run mark but will it be able to put up a decent chase target for the Aussies? Seems difficult from this point. Rashid and Azmat are on the crease and they are in dire need to hit big shots. AFG 201/7 (41)

Caught at cover! Johnson delivers a massive breakthrough. Atal goes for the drive, but it's slightly on the up—fails to keep it grounded—and Smith pouches a sharp, low catch. A crucial wicket at a crucial moment. AFG 161/4 (32)

Left-hander Sediqullah Atal brought up a well-crafted half-century in the 23rd over, keeping Afghanistan’s hopes alive in this crucial Group B clash. He now holds the key if they are to post a competitive total on the board.

Earlier, Ibrahim Zadran and Atal were steering Afghanistan into a position of strength, but the introduction of Adam Zampa and Glenn Maxwell turned the tide. The spin duo struck in quick succession, dismissing Zadran and Rahmat Shah to put Australia back on top.

The innings had already suffered an early jolt when Spencer Johnson struck in the very first over, removing Rahmanullah Gurbaz and setting the tone for a tense battle at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. AFG 159/3 (31)

First ball Zampa to Sediqullah Atal, SIX runs. He's greeted by a six. Lofted high over mid-off, and just has the legs to go all the way. Seems like the batters are now in the rhythm or maybe they are aware of the slow run rate. The team needs to put a good score on the board for the Australian side. Inserting Maxwell’s brilliant innings vs Afghanistan during 2023 World Cup. AFG 139/3 (28)

Hasmat and Sediq, both lefties, are on the crease right now. The Afghanistan dugout looks tensed at the moment. The side has lost three wickets and are struggling to reach 100-run mark after 21 overs. The batters need to pull up their socks and start collecting some big runs. AFG 98/3 (21)

Australian team got the breakthrough they were looking for after Zampa took down hitter Ibrahim Zadran. A shorter delivery, closer to the stumps—a long hop just asking to be put away! But Zadran miscues it, reaching too far for the cut. Instead of finding the gap, he spoons a simple catch to Marnus at backward point! He’ll be disappointed with that one—it was there to be punished! Rahmat Shah comes in at number 3. AFG 71/2 (14)

Ellis begins the over with a full and shaping across the left-hander at 82mph—a teasing line! It finds the outside edge and races through where a third slip might have been lurking. Next is another full delivery, this time outside off at 135.1kph. The batter drives into the gap at extra cover, but it comes off the toe of the bat, slowing its pace. Still, they manage to sneak two runs.

Next up: A tidy single keeps the scoreboard ticking, followed by two well-directed dot balls. And a single comes off the last ball. AFG 68/1 (12)

First ball: Johnson steams in and bangs it into the pitch—Zadran stays composed, calmly defending from the back foot towards the leg side.

Second ball: Full and straight at 139kph, angling into the pads. Zadran meets it with a neat push down to mid-on, middling it beautifully.

Third ball: A lapse in control—wide delivery! Johnson loses his radar, gifting an extra run.

Fourth ball: Crack! Sediq latches onto this one and drives it gloriously through the covers for four! Johnson overpitches at 142.3kph, and the left-hander takes full advantage, leaning into a picture-perfect stroke.

Fifth ball: Johnson cranks it up again, 140kph zipping in. Sediq isn't fazed—three runs tucked away with a confident push.

Final ball: Back to discipline—dot ball to finish the over. A lively contest brewing! AFG 33/1 (7)

Johnson delivers a length ball that nips in sharply off the surface, beating Sediqullah Atal’s inside edge. The ball bounces just over the off stump before swinging late, eluding Inglis' dive and racing to the boundary.

Afghanistan moves to 6/1, with a current run rate of 3.00. Ben Dwarshuis delivers a tight over, conceding just 2 runs. Sediqullah Atal is on 2 off 7 balls, while Ibrahim Zadran is yet to face a delivery. Spencer Johnson and Dwarshuis keep the pressure on with disciplined bowling.

Afghanistan finishes the first over at 4/1, with a current run rate of 4.00. Spencer Johnson strikes early, conceding just 4 runs while picking up a crucial wicket. Sediqullah Atal is at the crease with 0 off 1 ball, while Ibrahim Zadran is yet to face a delivery.

That’s a beauty! A Starc-like yorker at 140kph, tailing in late and sneaking through the gap between bat and pad to crash into the base of off-stump. A massive breakthrough early in the innings!

Rahmanullah Gurbaz b Johnson 0 (5b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0

Short delivery on the hips from over the wicket, deflected off the thigh pad behind square towards fine leg. Quick running between the wickets helps Afghanistan get off the mark with a couple of runs.

Afghanistan must capitalize on the absence of three key Australian pacers. A strong start from the opening pair will be crucial, especially in making the most of the new ball in the initial powerplay. Their ability to set the tone early could determine Afghanistan’s chances of putting up a competitive total.

Ibrahim Zadran was sensational against England, smashing a brilliant 177. He also has fond memories of playing against Australia, having scored 129 in their Mumbai clash and 51 off 48 balls in Afghanistan’s T20 World Cup victory in St. Vincent. All eyes will be on him today as Afghanistan looks to build a solid platform, avoiding early setbacks like in their previous game against England.

Afghanistan 1 Ibrahim Zadran, 2 Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 3 Sediqullah Atal, 4 Rahmat Shah, 5 Hashmatullah Shahidi (capt), 6 Azmatullah Omarzai, 7 Mohammad Nabi, 8 Gulbadin Naib, 9 Rashid Khan, 10 Noor Ahmad, 11 Fazalhaq Farooqi

Australia 1 Travis Head, 2 Matt Short, 3 Steven Smith (capt), 4 Marnus Labuschagne, 5 Josh Inglis (wk), 6 Alex Carey, 7 Glenn Maxwell, 8 Ben Dwarshuis, 9 Nathan Ellis, 10 Adam Zampa, 11 Spencer Johnson

Afghanistan won the toss and chose to bat first against Australia in the crucial Champions Trophy 2025 Group B match at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. With a semifinal spot at stake, Afghanistan aims to put up a strong total, while Australia looks to capitalize on early breakthroughs. Stay tuned for live updates!

Afghanistan playing 11 (probable):Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (C), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi

Australia playing 11 (probable):Matthew Short, Travis Head, Steven Smith (C), Josh Inglis (WK), Marnus Labuschagne, Alex Carey, Glenn Maxwell, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Spencer Johnson

Rain looms as a major concern, with forecasts indicating a 40-70% chance of showers between 6 AM and 3 PM, potentially disrupting the match. If the game is washed out, Australia will secure a semifinal spot, while Afghanistan’s hopes will depend on the outcome of South Africa’s final group-stage match.

Australia have struggled with consistency, but the presence of Travis Head and Steve Smith provides much-needed stability in their batting lineup. Glenn Maxwell’s all-round skills will be pivotal, while Josh Inglis is in excellent form. In the bowling attack, Adam Zampa will aim to exploit the spin-friendly conditions, supported by left-arm pacer Ben Dwarshuis.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan enters the contest with high confidence after their impressive victory over England. Ibrahim Zadran has been in outstanding form, while Azmatullah Omarzai has made valuable contributions with both bat and ball. Their spin attack, led by Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, and Noor Ahmad, remains a formidable threat to any opposition.

Key players to watch in the Afghanistan vs Australia clash include Ibrahim Zadran, who has been in exceptional form with 194 runs in just two matches, including a record-breaking knock. Afghanistan's Azmatullah Omarzai has also made a significant impact, contributing 59 runs and taking six wickets in two games. For Australia, Josh Inglis has been a standout performer, scoring 120 runs in a single match, which included a century. Ben Dwarshuis has been effective with the ball, securing three wickets in the previous game. Additionally, Glenn Maxwell remains a crucial all-rounder for Australia, known for his match-winning capabilities.

Afghanistan (AFG)

Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Ikram Alikhil, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharoti, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Farid Malik, Naveed Zadran.

Australia (AUS)

Steve Smith (c), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Matthew Short, Adam Zampa.

The highly anticipated Afghanistan vs Australia clash in the 10th Match of Group B is set to take place on Friday, 28 February 2025, at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. The match will begin at 2:30 PM IST and will be broadcast live on the Star Sports Network and Sports18 Network. Fans can also catch the live stream on JioHotstar. This crucial encounter will play a significant role in shaping the tournament’s next stage, with Afghanistan fighting for survival and Australia looking to solidify their position.

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the thrilling Australia vs Afghanistan clash! This match is a crucial decider in the tournament, with Afghanistan fighting for survival and Australia looking to secure their spot in the next stage.

Stay tuned for real-time updates, expert analysis, key moments, and reactions as the action unfolds. Will Afghanistan pull off another stunning victory, or will Australia assert their dominance? Follow along for all the latest developments from this must-watch encounter!