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Underdogs of the ongoing ODI World Cup 2023, Afghanistan qualified for the Champions Trophy 2025 after Bangladesh defeated Sri Lanka in the World Cup 2023 on November 6, Monday at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. This will be the first time that the subcontinental nation will play this tournament.
The Champions Trophy 2025 will be hosted by Pakistan. The top seven teams after the completion of the league stage will qualify for the eight-team event alongside hosts Pakistan.
Meanwhile, the Afghanistan cricket team received an encouraging boost as cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar delivered a special pep talk during their team huddle before their crucial World Cup clash against the five-time champions Australia.
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Afghanistan's impressive showing in the World Cup 2023, defeating previous title-holders such as Sri Lanka, England, and Pakistan, has cemented their position as a strong contender for a spot in the semi-finals. With four victories in their first seven matches and a recent winning streak against the Netherlands, Afghanistan's hopes for a semi-final place seemed attainable.
The impending clash between Australia and Afghanistan carried additional significance, characterized by the backdrop of a perceived 'grudge match.'
This is because the withdrawal from the ODI series against Afghanistan led to Australia forfeiting 30 ICC ODI Super League points to Afghanistan. This series formed a crucial part of the International Cricket Council's (ICC) Super League, where the top eight teams were assured a spot in the 2023 World Cup. Despite the loss of points, Australia's prior qualification for the tournament rendered the impact minimal.
Controversy lit up the dead rubber clash between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka after Angelo Mathews was given out without facing a ball as he did not take the strike within two minutes despite his helmet malfunction when he took the crease.
Following the game, Mathews strongly criticized Shakib and Bangladesh for their unsportsmanlike behaviour. He also expressed his dissatisfaction with the fourth umpire for the incorrect dismissal, presenting video evidence to support his claim that he had five seconds remaining before his helmet became an issue.
"Fourth umpire is wrong here! Video evidence shows I still had 5 more seconds even after the helmet gave away! Can the 4th umpire rectify this please? I mean safety is paramount as I just couldn't face the bowler without a helmet," Mathews wrote on x.com.
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