Australia has qualified for the Champions Trophy semifinals after relentless rain forced the abandonment of their key Group B match against Afghanistan. The no-result game left Afghanistan’s campaign in limbo, bringing an end to their hopes of reaching the knockout stage.
The much-awaited showdown was turning out to be a captivating decider, with Afghanistan requiring a victory to remain in the hunt. But nature had other things in mind, as heavy showers brought play to a halt and later led to the match being abandoned. This left Australia to advance on higher points, with Afghanistan left lamenting a lost chance.
Australian skipper Pat Cummins showed mixed feelings, saying, “We always want to win on the field, but we’ll take the semi-final spot. Afghanistan played some outstanding cricket, and it’s unfortunate for them.” Afghan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi sounded disappointed, saying, “It’s tough to go out like this, but we are proud of our journey.”
With the semifinals arranged, Australia will now turn their attention to their next great challenge, seeking to win another ICC title. Afghanistan’s energetic campaign, however, comes to a close, but they depart with pride and hope for the future.
