Australia vs South Africa, Rain washed out match: The ICC Champions Trophy 2025

    Photo: Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium credit-ICC

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Group B fixture between Australia and South Africa was scheduled to be played on February 25, 2025, at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. However persistent rain in Rawalpindi since yesterday morning resulted in the match being abandoned before a single ball bowled.

The crowd in huge numbers turned to the stadium to witness the high-quality contest between two Top teams in the world. However, the rain spoiled the party for everyone. Players of both teams also continued waiting until the final call. 

South Africa and Australia both are placed in Group B along with England and Afghanistan. It was an important fixture for both the teams and also for other teams of Group B in the context of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final scenario. Australia and South Africa both teams were coming into the contest after winning their 1st match of the tournament against their respective teams. Australia beat England in their 1st match whereas South Africa crushed Afghanistan in their opening match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. So, Both the teams wanted to keep their winning momentum win this contest, and stamp their chances to the semi-final. But Unfortunately, the rain washed out the match.

Generally, Rawalpindi is a good venue for playing cricket like other venues in Pakistan as it is very rare that rain spoils the party there but as there was no rain at all in the last 4-5 months in Rawalpindi so the rainy season was expected to start later in February.

According to the ICC rules book there is no reserve day for any match except the final as The International Cricket Council announced that, "The continuous rain resulted in the match being abandoned and points are shared between both teams".

    Photo: Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium credit-ICC

After the match, both captain Joss Buttler and Steve Smith expressed disappointment about the match being called off and said they were ready and anxiously waiting for the match to begin but it is something that is not in their control so they will take this and move to the next game.

Australia's last 4 matches in the ICC Champions Trophy are washed out of 8 being played. In the ICC Champions Trophy 2017, the majority of the matches were rain-affected so as a result they couldn't qualify for the semi-finals. This is very disappointing and unlucky for a side that is usually ruthless in the ICC events. But it is what it is now both teams will have to move on to their next matches.  

The cut-off time for the 20-overs contest was 07:02pm, however, unfavorable conditions due to rain dashed out any chance of the match. Earlier Umpires Chris Gaffaney and Richard Kettleborough inspected the condition under a light drizzle and announced that the match was not starting at its scheduled time 02:00 pm and the toss was also delayed. 

Both the Umpires inspected the field many times but there were pools of water on the different sides of the field, which ground staff could not remove due to persistent drizzle. As a result, looking at the safety of the players, both umpires decided to call off the match at 05:00 pm before the cut-off time. It was certain that the conditions couldn't improve before the cut-off time of 07:00 pm due to rain.

It was an utter disappointment for the crowd which came in good numbers and had flags of both teams in their hands to support them.

This match result will affect both teams in the context of their qualification for the semi-finals as both teams South Africa and Australia are standing at no. 1 and 2 respectively. South Africa is at the top of the Points table of Group B courtesy of their healthy run rate whereas Australia is at number two followed by England and Afghanistan respectively. Now South Africa and Australia both have to win their next matches against England and Afghanistan to cement their place in the semi-finals. As a result of this match being called off the next match between England and Afghanistan at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore on February 26, 2025, is a must-win match for both teams. The loser of that match will be eliminated from the ICC Champions 2025. Whereas the winner will have another chance to qualify for the Semifinals.

The last time these two sides met was in the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 semi-final where Australia beat South Africa and qualified for the Final which eventually they won after beating host India.

Now Australia will face Afghanistan on February 28, 2025, at The Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore whereas South Africa will play against England on March 1st, 2025 at The National Stadium Karachi.

    Photo: Aiden Markram credit-ICC

The Group A group stage status is almost done and dusted, New Zealand and India have qualified for the Semi-Finals whereas host Pakistan and Bangladesh are already eliminated from the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. In Group B South Africa is at the top followed by Australia England and Afghanistan.