Heavy rain forced the Champions Trophy showdown between South Africa and Australia to be abandoned in Rawalpindi on Tuesday. The umpires officially called off the match at 5 p.m. local time after relentless drizzle kept the pitch under wraps all day.
Both teams retain their unbeaten records, each holding three points ahead of decisive final group matches. Australia faces Afghanistan in Lahore on Friday, while South Africa battles England in Karachi on Saturday. The washout intensifies pressure as only two Group B teams can advance to the semifinals.
Prior performances highlight both squads' dominance:
- Australia chased a record 352 runs against England
- South Africa posted 315-6 vs Afghanistan
Josh Inglis’ century and Ryan Rickelton’s maiden ODI hundred underscored their teams’ batting firepower. With New Zealand and India already securing semifinal spots from Group A, Wednesday’s England-Afghanistan match becomes critical for survival in the tournament.
Weather disruptions are the wildcard in this Champions Trophy,said a stadium official.
Pakistan’s unpredictable spring rains now threaten to reshape the entire tournament bracket. Fans await Friday’s matches with semifinal qualifications hanging in the balance.
