Lahore, March 1: Australian opener Matthew Short is likely to miss the Champions Trophy semifinal after sustaining a quad injury during the rain-affected match against Afghanistan. The in-form batter, who managed 20 off 15 balls, appeared in visible discomfort before being dismissed by Azmatullah Omarzai.
Short’s absence could be a major blow for Steve Smith's side, as he played a crucial role in Australia’s chase of England’s 351-run target, scoring 63 runs in the opening match of the tournament.
Smith Expresses Doubts Over Short’s Recovery
Speaking to Prime Video, Australian captain Steve Smith indicated that Short’s recovery timeline appears too short for him to regain fitness before the semifinal.Possible Replacements in Playing XI
If Short is ruled out, Australia might bring in big-hitter Jake Fraser-McGurk as a like-for-like replacement. However, Fraser-McGurk has struggled recently, failing twice in the one-day series in Sri Lanka.Other options include all-rounder Aaron Hardie or Cooper Connolly, who is traveling with the squad as a reserve.
Australia’s Semifinal Opponent Yet to Be Decided
Australia has secured a semifinal spot with four points but will have to wait for Sunday's India vs New Zealand match to determine their opponent. They could face India in Dubai on Tuesday or New Zealand in Lahore on Wednesday.Meanwhile, South Africa, currently at three points, can still overtake Australia in Group B if they defeat England in Saturday’s final group-stage match in Karachi. There remains a slim chance for Afghanistan to qualify, but only if England thrash South Africa, a scenario deemed highly unlikely.
Australia's Current Standing in Group B
- Australia: 4 points (Confirmed semifinalists)
- South Africa: 3 points (Can qualify with a win over England)
- Afghanistan: Extremely slim qualification chance
