Daijiworld Media Network- Lahore

Lahore, Feb 27: Afghanistan’s thrilling eight-run victory over England at the Gaddafi Stadium has ignited an intense race for the semi-finals from Group B, with Australia and South Africa also in the fray.

With India and New Zealand already securing their semi-final spots from Group A, the battle for the remaining slots in Group B is set for a dramatic finish.

Afghanistan’s win over England has kept their semi-final hopes alive, but their fate is far from sealed. Hashmatullah Shahidi’s team sits third in Group B, trailing Australia and South Africa by one point.

Their upcoming clash against Australia on Friday in Lahore is nothing short of a virtual quarter-final—a win guarantees their passage to the semi-finals, while a loss will end their campaign.

A victory against Afghanistan will confirm Australia’s spot in the semi-finals. However, Steve Smith’s men have an added advantage—a one-point lead over Afghanistan, meaning that even if the match is washed out, Australia will automatically qualify.

For the Proteas, the equation is straightforward—a win against England in their final group-stage match will send them through to the knockouts.

However, if South Africa loses to England, they can still qualify if Australia beats Afghanistan. But if England wins and Afghanistan stuns Australia, then South Africa will find themselves in a tense Net Run Rate (NRR) battle with Australia for the final semi-final spot.

With three teams vying for two spots, the Champions Trophy 2025 is heading for a thrilling finale, where every run and every wicket could decide the fate of the semi-finalists.