CT 2025 Updates: SA vs Aus match called off

The Champions Trophy Group B fixture between Australia and South Africa in Rawalpindi was abandoned without a ball being bowled on Tuesday after persistent rain kept the players from the field.

South Africa top the pool on net run-rate from Australia with both teams on three points after winning their opening fixtures against Afghanistan and England respectively.

The latter two meet in Lahore on Wednesday, with the top two teams in each group advancing to the semi-finals.

Light rain through the day left pools of water on the covers and the outfield, making the prospect of play impossible when the game was called off just after 1200 GMT.

The toss was due to take place at 1:30 p.m., but light drizzle meant the covers were still on at that time.

The weather forecast suggested the rain could continue for much of the day.

Australia and South Africa, two teams possessing plenty of batting firepower, will look to outmuscle each other in Rawalpindi on Tuesday and put one foot in the semifinals of the Champions Trophy.

Not many were giving a depleted Australia a chance in the tournament but their record-breaking chase against England in Lahore has once again shown their penchant for rising to the occasion in ICC events.

The dew played its part the other night in Lahore and could once again aid the chasing team in Rawalpindi.

 Australia are bound to miss the pace trio of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood in the tournament but at least in the opener, the audacious batting display compensated for their absence.

Josh Inglis' confidence must be sky high after playing the innings of his life with runs also coming from the bat of Matthew Short, Marnus Labuschagne, Alex Carey and Glenn Maxwell.

That leaves out only skipper Steve Smith and opener Travis Head in the batting department and they could score a big one against the Proteas.

A better bowling effort would be expected from left-arm pacer Spencer Johnson and Maxwell too was on the expensive side against England. The sixth bowler's role is likely to be shared by Labuschagne and Short.

Like Inglis, Ryan Rickleton in the South African dressing room would be beaming with confidence after an attacking hundred against Afghanistan. Number three, four, five striking half-centuries augurs well for the Temba Bavuma-led side.

Heinrich Klaasen missed out on the last game due to injury and his participation in Tuesday's game is not certain.

South Africa's pace attack is certainly stronger than their opponents with Kagiso Rabada leading the charge.

With first choice players not available, South Africa did not have the best of build ups for Champions Trophy but are backing themselves to go all the way.

"I think as a group we might not have had the best results coming into this tournament, but quietly I think everyone's quite confident. We do have incredibly good players in this team, not just in the team but obviously the whole squad as well," said Rickleton.

"There's guys that are maybe a bit young in the side as well that are also looking to make an impact. But I don't think we're too burdened by the hunt to win the whole thing.

"Obviously, we're here to do that. But we don't let that restrict us. We have to play our best game, have fun, enjoy each other's company," he added.