Australia’s much-anticipated match against South Africa in the Champions Trophy has been called off due to persistent rain in Rawalpindi. The umpires were expected to make a decision by 7:30 PM local time (12:30 AM AEDT), but they determined earlier that the weather conditions were unsuitable for play.
As South African cricketing legend Shaun Pollock explained during the Amazon Prime coverage, after discussing the situation with the ground staff and assessing the radar, it was clear that the rain would likely continue for another hour or two. As a result, the match was formally abandoned—much to the disappointment of both teams and fans alike, as it promised to be an exciting encounter.
Despite the washout, both Australia and South Africa will receive one point, having secured victories in their opening matches. The situation leaves the competition dynamic open, with both teams now seeking to progress to the semi-finals. England and Afghanistan are also in Group B, with the other two fixtures still to play a crucial role in determining which teams advance.
Dale Steyn commented on the fallout from the match cancellation, suggesting that Australia might be more content with the result, given their next fixture is against Afghanistan, which could be viewed as less challenging than South Africa’s upcoming clash with England. He noted that the situation in the group has become more unpredictable, as any wins from Afghanistan could significantly change the standings.
With Afghanistan set to face England shortly, the stakes will certainly rise for all teams involved, complicating the path to the semi-finals even further.