Heinrich Klaasen to miss out again, Australia set to field unchanged XI

AUS vs SA Champions Trophy 2025 Predicted Playing 11 Today Match: With Group A’s semifinals decided, all eyes will now turn to Group B where Australia and South Africa will renew their rivalry in ICC events when the two sides lock horns again in Rawalpindi. Both sides have won one each with Australia defeating England and South Africa edging past Afghanan.
A win in this match will virtually guarantee a place in the semifinal for either the Aussies or the Proteas. Before the tournament began, both South Africa and Australia came into it with dismal ODI records with the Steve Smith-led side losing their last 4 matches while Temba Bavuma’s team losing 6 out of 6 ODIs. But both have turned that form around with comprehensive wins in their tournament openers.
Heinrich Klaasen to miss out again
South Africa’s big hitter Heinrich Klaasen had to miss out their opener against Afghanan die to an elbow injury. This time around also, the Proteas are expected to line up without him against Australia. But they will not be short of firepower with Ryan Rickelton, who scored a century against Afghanan, in blering form. Their other players like Bavuma, Aiden Markram and Rassie van der Dussen had also chipped in with half centuries so expect another blering performance from the Proteas against a depleted Aussie side.
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Australia expected to field same team
The Aussies already missing the likes of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Marsh and Josh Hazlewood are short of star power in the squad. So, with Josh Inglis slamming a century against England will give them some relief heading into the South Africa clash. Matthew Short and Alex Carey also put in a shift against England with two half centuries which compensated for he lack of runs from Travis Head and captain Steve Smith. Both star batters might find more joy in the Rawalpindi pitch so it’ll be foolish to write off Australia in an ICC event, however depleted they are.
Predicted XI
Australia: Matthew Short, Travis Head, Steve Smith (capt), Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis (wk), Alex Carey, Glenn Maxwell, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Spencer Johnson

South Africa: Ryan Rickelton (wk), Tony de Zorzi, Temba Bavuma (capt), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Wiaan Mulder, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi