2025 ICC Champions Trophy: Qualification scenarios from Group B ahead of the Australia vs South Africa clash
The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy began on the 19th of this month with much anticipation built around the return of the marquee ICC event after a long gap of 8 years. After its last edition was played in 2017, the Champions Trophy was stalled owing to the introduction of the World Test Championship.
With the defending champions from 2017, Pakistan being the hosts for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, the tournament had its own toll as the hosts were the first team to be ruled out of the Champions Trophy. Both Bangladesh and Pakistan have been eliminated, while India and New Zealand seal the top two spots in the semi-finals from Group A.
The Group B Teams:
Group B seems more promising, as it includes the World Champions Australia, the consistent South African side, the promising talents of Afghanistan, and Cricket’s oldest folks in England.
Group B started with a game between Afghanistan and South Africa, with the Proteas building on a consolidating start with a 300+ total. Thanks to Rickelton’s stunning hundred on CT debut and a stellar show from their bowlers, they started with a promising win over Afghanistan.
On the other hand, Australia achieved what no one else could in the history of the Champions Trophy as well as an ICC event when they chased a huge 350+ total against England in the fourth match of the ICC event.
Group B Points Table:
| POSITION | TEAMS | MATCHES PLAYED | WON | LOSS | POINTS | N/R |
| 1. | South Africa | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | +2.140 |
| 2. | Australia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | +0.475 |
| 3. | England | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -0.475 |
| 4. | Afghanistan | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -2.140 |
Qualification Scenarios from Group B in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy:
Scenario 1: Australia wins against South Africa and England wins against Afghanistan.
Today’s match would feature Australia and South Africa; if Australia can secure a win here, eventually, it might take the Aussies into the semis. However, if England wins the match against Afghanistan tomorrow at this same venue, then the South Africa vs. England match will turn into a crucial fixture.
Either one of the winners, South Africa or England, from the match between the two, would then advance off into the semis alongside the Aussies.
Scenario 2: Australia wins against South Africa, and Afghanistan wins against England.
Under this scenario, the Aussies would look to go ahead with two wins, though South Africa would also have their chances to win 2 matches if they can defeat England in the next match. Afghanistan, advancing with a win under this scenario, would have to defeat Australia in the final group stage game to advance to the semis.
Under this scenario, three teams—Australia, South Africa, and Afghanistan—will be leveled at 2 wins each, and hence the semi-finalists would then be decided on net run rate.
Scenario 3: Australia loses to South Africa, and England wins against Afghanistan.
After losing a game against South Africa, Australia would be in a must-win situation against Afghanistan; otherwise, it would end their hope for the Champions Trophy semis.
If England, after winning against Afghanistan, can secure a victory against South Africa, then likely the two teams will be levelled with 2 wins alongside Australia if they secure a win against Afghanistan.
Scenario 4: Australia loses to South Africa, and England wins against Afghanistan but loses against South Africa.
If the Aussies lose the match against South Africa and England wins against Afghanistan, then a scenario arises where both Australia and England have a win and a loss in 2 games played.
If England goes on to lose their next fixture against South Africa again and Australia loses to Afghanistan, then all three teams, Australia, Afghanistan, and England, will be level with only one win each, and the team with a higher net run rate will advance off into the semis alongside the South African side.
Scenario 5: Australia wins against South Africa, and Afghanistan wins against England.
Under this presumed scenario, Australia might win the match against South Africa, and if Afghanistan can also win against England, then a new situation arises.
If Afghanistan loses to Australia in the last Group B fixture and England wins their first game of the CT against South Africa, only then South Africa, England, and Afghanistan will be levelled at 1 win each and would have to square off according to the net run rate to advance off to the semis alongside the Aussies.
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