• Home
  • Breaking News
  • Afghanistan Qualify For Champions Trophy For The First Time In History

Afghanistan Qualify For Champions Trophy For The First Time In History

image-lonp0strAfghanistan Cricket Team (Source: AP Photo)

It surely turned out to be one of the most glorious years in Afghanistan's cricket history as their national team, currently participating in the ongoing World Cup 2023 in India, have made it through to the Champions Trophy 2025, slated to be held in Pakistan.

All this happened after Bangladesh were able to beat Sri Lanka on Monday and were able to knock them out of the race for the semi-finals, which means that Afghanistan, with currently eight points from seven matches, will finish in the top eight this year, ensuring their place in marquee event in two years.

The qualification method for the Champions Trophy 2025 was changed back in 2021, after which it was decided by the member boards and ICC that alongside the hosts Pakistan, the top seven teams on the points table after the end of this WC will directly qualify for the eight-team event that consists of 15 matches in total.

The Hashmatullah Shahidi-led side qualifying for the high-quality event is a piece of massive news, however, on the contrast, defending World Cup champions England, who are currently positioned tenth on the table after a horrible tournament, are at the prime risk of getting eliminated from showpiece event.

England will have to win their remaining two games against the Netherlands and Pakistan in order to safeguard their place for the tournament that is generally played by the elite sides. 

On the other hand, the Dutch, too, are vying for a spot in the event as they are currently placed ninth and will hope that they atleast win one of their remaining games to get closer to the big dream. 

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, too, are in a position to qualify, considering they are seventh and eighth on the points table, respectively, while having four points to their name each.