Lahore [Pakistan], February 27: Afghanistan’s thrilling eight-run victory over England at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Wednesday has kept them firmly in the race for a semi-final spot in Group B. Along with Australia and South Africa, Afghanistan is still in contention for a place in the final four, while England’s defeat has officially knocked them out of the tournament.
India and New Zealand have already secured their spots in the semi-finals from Group A, but the fight for the final spots in Group B is set to go down to the wire. Afghanistan’s crucial win over England has set up a tense battle for qualification, with all three teams — Afghanistan, Australia, and South Africa — needing strong performances in their final group-stage matches.
How Each Team Can Secure Semi-Final Qualification:
Afghanistan: Despite their victory over England, Afghanistan currently sit in third place in Group B, trailing Australia and South Africa by a single point. Their next match against Australia on Friday in Lahore is effectively a virtual quarter-final. A win in this match will guarantee Afghanistan’s spot in the semi-finals, but any other result could see them miss out.
Australia: Australia’s situation is also critical. A win against Afghanistan will secure their semi-final qualification. However, the Aussies have a point advantage over Afghanistan, which means they will still progress even if the game is washed out, as occurred with their match against South Africa.
South Africa: For South Africa, a win against England in their final group-stage fixture will ensure they advance to the semi-finals. If South Africa loses to England, they can still qualify if Australia defeats Afghanistan. In this scenario, if England wins and Afghanistan beats Australia, South Africa will be involved in a tight Net Run Rate (NRR) battle with Australia, which will depend on their respective final results.
As the group stages near completion, the battle for the semi-finals is heating up, with each team needing a win in their final match to stay alive in the tournament.