The seesaw contest held at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Wednesday night reached its conclusion when Azmatullah Omarzai skillfully adjusted his bowling length to outwit a determined Joe Root, bringing Afghanistan within reach of yet another remarkable victory. The outcome for Afghanistan was ultimately sealed on the penultimate delivery of the match, as England faced an eight-run defeat, resulting in a disheartening exit from the Champions Trophy.

Having made their debut in the Champions Trophy just last week, where they suffered a loss in their opening match against South Africa, Afghanistan once again demonstrated their prowess as formidable challengers by defeating the former ODI world champions, thereby eliminating them from the tournament. This victory, achieved with a match still remaining, ensured Afghanistan's continued participation in the Champions Trophy.

Ahead of the start of the final round of the group-stage fixtures in the 2025 Champions Trophy, we look at how the semifinal line-up could shape up...

Group B semifinal scenario:

The semifinal teams from Group A have been confirmed, while the competition in Group B has narrowed down to three teams following England's exit. In the concluding round of the group stage, Afghanistan is set to compete against Australia in Lahore on Friday, and South Africa will face England on Saturday in Karachi.

Should Australia secure a victory over Afghanistan, both Steve Smith's team and the Proteas will advance to the semifinals. Conversely, if Hashmatullah Shahidi's squad manages to achieve a remarkable second consecutive victory against Australia, Afghanistan will progress to the semifinals. In this scenario, Australia's advancement would hinge not only on an England win but also on the winning margin. With South Africa holding a superior net run rate of +2.140, only a decisive victory for England could enable Australia (+0.475) to surpass South Africa in the net run rate and qualify for the knockout stage.

Who could India face?

India became the first team to reach the semifinals of the 2025 Champions Trophy. New Zealand secured their spot a day later by defeating Bangladesh in their second match. Group A still has two matches remaining in the tournament. The upcoming match between Pakistan and Bangladesh will have no bearing on the standings, while the India-New Zealand encounter on Sunday in Dubai will determine the group leader. The outcome of this match will also provide insight into their potential semifinal opponents.

According to the tournament format, the winner of each group will compete against the second-placed team from the opposite group. Therefore, if Australia and South Africa win their respective matches and India triumphs over New Zealand, the Men in Blue could face Australia in Dubai next Tuesday. Conversely, should India finish second in Group B, they would meet South Africa in the semifinals.

On the other hand, if Afghanistan manages to defeat Australia and England experiences a third consecutive loss in the tournament, India, finishing at the top of Group A, would face their Asian rival. However, if New Zealand prevails over India on Sunday, a similar outcome in Group A would lead Rohit Sharma's team to a semifinal clash with the Proteas.

Read Also: Michael Atherton Puts Jos Buttler on the Spot in Tense Interview After England's Champions Trophy Exit

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