Australia and South Africa Share Points in Champions Trophy 2025 After Relentless Rain

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The much-anticipated first ever Champions Trophy fixture between Australia and South Africa never got underway as relentless rain forced a washout on Tuesday in Rawalpindi. The game, which pitted two batting heavyweights on a good surface, didn't even have room for a T20 contest with the cut-off time being 07:32 PM local time. As a result, both teams were forced to share the spoils and are now on top of Group B with three points each. Australia had chased down a tournament record score to defeat England in their first game and South Africa brushed aside Afghanistan to kickstart their campaign with a win.

While the semifinalists from Group A have been decided already, the remaining fixtures from Group B are now crucial in determining the rest of the semifinalists. All four teams currently remain in contention despite the fact that South Africa and Australia have surged ahead. The loser of tomorrow's contest between England and Afghanistan will be eliminated. The final round of fixtures from this group will see two-time winners Australia take on Afghanistan and inaugural champions South Africa face England. The Champions Trophy 2025 has been marred by rain, with the latest washout putting the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) under the scanner for their arrangements at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

The PCB has been accused of wasting ICC money by not having sufficient covers on the ground, which led to the abandonment of the match. Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif blasted the PCB for the poor arrangements, questioning whether funds for stadium maintenance had been misused. The image posted by Kaif showed minimal covers on the Rawalpindi ground, with only the pitch and surrounding parts having covers. The lack of facilities to cover the ground further puts the PCB under the scanner, with the drainage quality for such a major ICC tournament being a big talking point. The conditions in Rawalpindi also paint a worrying sight for Pakistan, who play Bangladesh there on Thursday.

The match between Australia and South Africa was called off without a ball being bowled, with not even the toss being possible. The cut-off time for a 20-over game between Australia and South Africa was 7:32 PM local time. However, match officials called off the game almost two hours before that time. The semi-finals race is now heating up, with each upcoming game in Group B of the Champions Trophy being potentially a knockout contest. The Proteas will be the best suited to progress with one game in hand, while Australia will have their fate in their own hands if they win against Afghanistan in their final fixture. The road ahead for Jos Buttler and Co is that of a knockout tournament, with England needing to win both of their remaining games to have a shot at qualification. The Net Run Rate (NRR) will play a crucial role in determining the semifinalists, with the team having the better NRR having an advantage.

Here are the current standings in Group B:

• Australia - 3 points
• South Africa - 3 points
• England - 0 points
• Afghanistan - 0 points

The upcoming fixtures in Group B are:

1. England vs Afghanistan
2. Australia vs Afghanistan
3. South Africa vs England

Each of these games will be crucial in determining the semifinalists, with the teams having to win to stay in contention. The Champions Trophy 2025 has been an exciting tournament so far, with the rain affecting the proceedings. However, the teams are ready to give it their all in the remaining fixtures, with the semifinal spots up for grabs.

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