ICC Champions Trophy 2025 to be the last ICC tournament in Pakistan!! PCB embarrassed after Ground Staff falls

The match between Afghanistan and Australia in the Champions Trophy 2025 was supposed to be a high-octane clash as both the teams needed to win to secure their qualification for the semi-finals.

However, the rain in Lahore was so much that the game was washed out without any result possible. After the match was washed out, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was brutally slammed for its poor drainage facilities.

The ground workers tried their best but the ground couldn't be prepared on time to get a match. It is believed that the rain arrived for just 30 minutes, but it was enough to create huge puddles which could not be cleared on time by the groundsmen.

Also read: Australia on the verge of being knocked out of Champions Trophy 2025 after losing superstar to injury

Champions Trophy 2025 likely to be last ICC tournament in Pakistan

The situation has left the PCB and the whole country embarrassed. In a video that has gone viral on social media, the groundsmen are giving their best to clear the water with one of them even falling down.

#AFGvAUS #AUSvsAFG pic.twitter.com/YuKOyxT2Ze

— AA (@photuuu99) February 28, 2025

It is believed that the Champions Trophy 2025 will be the last ICC tournament on Pakistan soil due to the PCB's poor arrangements for a highly important game. The board was slammed by various cricket experts like Harsha Bhogle and Michael Vaughan for poor drainage facilities.

The fact that this was the arrangement at the country's most premier stadium, which is the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, further raises questions on Pakistan's capability as the hosts. The final of the tournament is also scheduled to be played on this ground if India doesn't qualify.

Lahore doesn't seem to have a proper drainage system and won't be able to handle rain for a long time. This has put all the blame on PCB and they are unlikely to get any hosting rights for some years now.

The Champions Trophy 2025 is the first ICC tournament to be held in Pakistan in 29 years. While all the teams are playing in Pakistan, India are playing their matches in Dubai after their government denied them the permission to travel to Pakistan.

Afghanistan batters fight hard

The game was at an interesting stage when the rain halted the proceedings. The Afghans batted first after winning the toss but Australia kept chipping away with wickets at regular intervals.

However, Afghanistan showed fight and reached a competitive total of 273 in 50 overs. Youngster Sediquallah Atal showed his worth in a crunch game after Ibrahim Zadran failed to score big this time. Atal scored 85 off 95 balls with 6 fours and 3 sixes while batting at No. 3.

As the wickets were falling down from the other end, allrounder Azmatullah Omarzai showed why he is rated so highly. The talented right-hander smashed a crucial 67 off 63 balls while batting with the tail and took his team to a fighting total.

Australia secure qualification for semi-finals

In reply, Australia had reached 109-1 in just 12.5 overs when rain stopped play. They got off to a flyer from Travis Head and Matthew Short at the top. While Short was dismissed, Head carried on and finished on 59 off 40 balls.

The match could not be started again as Australia secured their qualification for the semi-finals. However, it has put Afghanistan in danger of being knocked out of the Champions Trophy as they need a miraculous England victory over South Africa to qualify further.