Pakistan's misuse of ICC money exposed as Mohammad Kaif publicly shames PCB amid Rawalpindi rain

Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif was frustrated with the arrangements at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 match between Australia and South Africa. Mohammad Kaif raised concerns about the entire ground not being covered, which could lead to further delays.

The Champions Trophy match between Australia and South Africa is yet to begin due to rain in Rawalpindi on Tuesday. Notably, the match was set to start at 2:30 PM IST, but even the toss didn’t take place due to poor weather conditions. Weather forecasts had predicted rain throughout the match hours.

Was the ICC Money Utilised Wisely by Hosts? - Mohammad Kaif

Mohammad Kaif was miffed by the arrangements at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Kaif took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to criticize the lack of full ground coverage. He also questioned why such an important match was at risk. Kaif raised concerns about whether the ICC funds were used properly by the hosts.

"It's a shame that the Rawalpindi ground isn't fully covered. Such an important match - SA vs Aus - might go down the drain because no one addressed this issue. Was the ICC money utilised wisely by hosts?" Mohammad Kaif wrote.

It's a shame that the Rawalpindi ground isn't fully covered. Such an important match - SA vs Aus - might go down the drain because no one addressed this issue. Was the ICC money utilised wisely by hosts? pic.twitter.com/nPwthd1fji

— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) February 25, 2025

Pakistan were awarded hosting rights for the Champions Trophy 2025. However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) refused to send their team to the neighboring country due to political tensions. In response, the ICC, BCCI, and PCB agreed on a hybrid model, with India's matches being played in Dubai.

Australia and South Africa game is crucial for semi-final qualification

Australia and South Africa won their opening matches against England and Afghanistan, respectively. This game is crucial for semi-final qualification. Australia have historically dominated ICC tournaments, but South Africa's balanced squad and strong bowling attack make them formidable opponents.

Rain delays have already led to lost overs since 3 PM local time, with floodlights on at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. However, the evening weather forecast remains unfavorable. The cut-off time for a 20-over game is 7:32 PM local (8:00 PM IST), but with no signs of the rain stopping, further overs could be lost.

What will happen if the Australia vs South Africa clash gets washed out?

If the match between Australia and South Africa is washed out due to rain, England's and Afghanistan’s chances of reaching the semi-finals will be impacted. England and Afghanistan must win their remaining two games to stay in the race for the semi-finals, with the losing side being eliminated.

The washout would give Australia and South Africa a slight advantage in the semi-final race. However, if both Australia and South Africa lose their last group-stage matches, the winner of the England vs. Afghanistan game will qualify. The second semi-final spot will then be decided based on net run rate.

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