Weather Rawalpindi Today: Rain Washes Out Australia vs South Africa
The washout has significant implications for the tournament, with teams facing must-win situations to advance to the semi-finals. England and Afghanistan's match on Wednesday will be a virtual knockout, while Australia and South Africa will look to win their final group matches to secure a spot in the semi-finals.
Heavy rain in Rawalpindi has forced the abandonment of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 match between Australia and South Africa, with both teams awarded one point each. The match, a crucial one in the group stage, was scheduled to take place but relentless rain led to its cancellation, with no toss taking place.
The result of the abandoned match has significant implications for the tournament, with South Africa and Australia now tied with 3 points each. England and Afghanistan will play a virtual knockout match on Wednesday to determine the third spot in the semi-finals. The outcome of the match between England and Afghanistan will be crucial, as the loser will be guaranteed to exit the competition.
Former India player Mohammad Kaif has criticized the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for not covering the entire ground with covers, which has led to the match being delayed. The PCB's decision has been questioned, given the importance of the match and the potential consequences of a washout. The match was called off at 5:10 pm local time, three hours and ten minutes after the scheduled start.
The abandonment of the match has added an extra layer of complexity to the tournament, with teams now facing must-win situations to advance to the semi-finals. Australia and South Africa will still qualify for the semi-finals if they win their final group matches, while Afghanistan and England must win both their matches to advance. The weather conditions in Rawalpindi will be closely monitored in the coming days, as the tournament progresses.
