Afghanistan staged a remarkable comeback following a hefty 107-run defeat against South Africa by clinching an eight-run victory over England, breathing new life into their ICC Champions Trophy campaign. This crucial win ensured Afghanistan remained in contention as they prepared for their upcoming match against Australia in Lahore. Meanwhile, weather played a spoilsport in Rawalpindi, where the Group A clash between Pakistan and Bangladesh was abandoned without a ball being bowled, marking the second weather-affected match at this venue.
The washout of the Pakistan-Bangladesh match mirrored the fate of Australia’s earlier meeting with South Africa, also canceled due to rain in Rawalpindi. Both Pakistan and Bangladesh had already been knocked out of the tournament after suffering defeats in their opening two matches. Pakistan ended at the bottom of Group A with just one point, having lost to New Zealand by 60 runs and to India by six wickets. Similarly, Bangladesh concluded their campaign in third place following a six-wicket loss to India and a five-wicket defeat to New Zealand.
In Group B, Australia secured a strong position, sitting second after their five-wicket victory over England. They now face Afghanistan in Lahore on Friday. The match is scheduled to commence at 09:00 GMT. However, it remains uncertain whether weather conditions will interfere once more, as seen in previous fixtures.
Despite the setbacks caused by rain in Rawalpindi, the tournament continues to hold significance for teams like Afghanistan, who are battling to keep their championship hopes alive. Their upcoming encounter with Australia is crucial, as they strive to build on their recent triumph over England. The Afghan squad aims to harness the momentum from their latest win to challenge Australia's sturdy lineup.
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