The four semifinalists of the Champions Trophy have been decided, with India and New Zealand progressing from Group A and South Africa joining Australia from Group B to complete the line-up. However, the match-ups are yet to be decided.
That leaves the concluding game in Group A on Sunday a decisive one.
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The 2013 Champions Trophy winners India will take on New Zealand at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium to mark an end to the group stage of the tournament, and the result of the match will decide who plays whom in the semis.
South Africa’s win over England in Karachi on Saturday ended Group B engagements; and the result saw the Proteas finishing top with five points, followed by Australia on four. Besides England, Afghanistan were the other team in the group to take the flight back home.
In Group A, both India and New Zealand have been unbeaten, which puts them at four points each. The team that wins on Sunday will finish at the top, while the losers will end up second. Hosts Pakistan and Bangladesh are the two teams eliminated from this group.
In case of no result, New Zealand will remain No. 1 in the group and India will take the second spot.
Here’s how the semifinal line-up may look like based on the possible results in the India-New Zealand match:
If India win and top Group A: India vs Australia in Dubai on March 4; New Zealand vs South Africa in Lahore on March 5
If New Zealand win to top Group A or there’s no result: India vs South Africa in Dubai on March 4; New Zealand vs Australia in Lahore on March 5