Groundsmen cover the pitch and field area due to low rain fall before start of the ICC Champions Trophy cricket match between Australia and South Africa, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, on February 25, 2025
| Photo Credit: AP
Rain delayed the toss in the Champions Trophy Group B game between South Africa and two-time winner Australia in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, on Tuesday (February 25, 2025).
The square and the pitch remained under covers at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium due to a persistent light drizzle and more rain is forecast later in the day.
Both teams began their campaign after posting 300-plus scores in their opening group games. Australia, coming into the Champions Trophy without three frontline fast bowlers, made the tournament’s highest-ever chase of 352 on the back of Josh Inglis’ century against England at Lahore.
South Africa registered an emphatic 107-run win over Afghanistan at Karachi after Ryan Rickelton made his maiden ODI hundred in a strong total of 315-6.
New Zealand and India have already qualified for the semifinals after winning both their games against Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Squads
Australia: Matthew Short, Travis Head, Steven Smith (captain), Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis (wk), Alex Carey, Glenn Maxwell, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Spencer Johnson, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Sean Abbott, Tanveer Sangha.
South Africa: Ryan Rickelton (wicketkeeper), Tony de Zorzi, Temba Bavuma (captain), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Heinrich Klaasen, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs, Corbin Bosch.
Published – February 25, 2025 03:01 pm IST