The highly anticipated Champions Trophy match between Australia and South Africa in Rawalpindi was abandoned without a toss as persistent rain prevented any play. The match was officially called off at 5:10 PM local time, more than three hours after the scheduled start, well before the 7:32 PM cutoff for a 20-over game. This was set to be the teams’ first-ever meeting in a Champions Trophy.
With the washout, Australia and South Africa remain in strong positions to reach the semi-finals, provided they win their final group-stage matches against Afghanistan and England, respectively. Meanwhile, Wednesday’s clash between England and Afghanistan has now become a do-or-die encounter, with the losing team guaranteed elimination. The winner will need another victory in their last group match to advance, making the upcoming Australia-Afghanistan and South Africa-England fixtures potential virtual quarter-finals.
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South Africa did not announce their playing XI for the rained-out game, keeping Heinrich Klaasen’s status uncertain. The middle-order batter missed their opening match due to an elbow injury but now has additional time to recover before their crucial game against England on Saturday.
This match was supposed to mark the first meeting between Australia and South Africa since their 2023 ODI World Cup semi-final, where Australia emerged victorious. The head-to-head record in ICC events remains tight—Australia has won four times, South Africa three, with one tie in the 1999 World Cup. With this washout, the only way the two sides can face off again in this tournament is if both make it to the final.
