Afghanistan’s cricket team, now playing in the World Cup 2023 in India, has advanced to the Champions Trophy 2025, which will take place in Pakistan. It has undoubtedly been one of the most successful years in the country’s history.
Afghanistan now has eight points from seven matches and will finish in the top eight this year, guaranteeing their spot in the major event in two years. All of this happened after Bangladesh defeated Sri Lanka on Monday and eliminated them from contention for the semi-finals.
The member boards and the Indian Cricket Council decided that the top seven teams on the points table at the end of this World Cup, along with the hosts Pakistan, would automatically qualify for the eight-team competition consisting of 15 matches, in response to a change in the qualifying process for the Champions Trophy 2025 in 2021.
The fact that the team led by Hashmatullah Shahidi has advanced to the top competition is great news, but England, the reigning World Cup winners, who are currently tenth in the rankings after a horrendous campaign, are probably going to be ousted from the main event.
To secure their spot in the event, which is typically played by the top teams, England must win their next two matches against Pakistan and the Netherlands.
However, the Netherlands is also fighting for a berth in the tournament. Currently ranked ninth, they will need to win one of their remaining games to have a chance at the grand prize.
Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, meanwhile, can also advance since they have four points apiece and are ranked seventh and eighth in the points table, respectively.