Australia Men’s Cricket Team – the word required no introduction or explanation in the cricket community.

Though Australia remained unbeaten in the group stage, their defeat against Afghanistan in the Super 8 round became the starting point of their downfall. Following a dreadful defeat against Afghanistan, the Aussies failed to bounce back and lost their final Super 8 game against India.

With a defeat against India in the Super 8 clash, Australia’s semi-final qualifications chances hung in a thin thread which was later completely cut off by Afghanistan.

Though Australia lost their consecutive Super 8 games, they were still left out with a back door entry option in the form of Bangladesh’s win over Afghanistan. But a defeat for Afghanistan in the AFG vs BAN clash would knock them out of the tournament.

In a do-or-die game, Afghanistan players and support staff all implemented their experience and made Rashid Khan and Co. script history in the nail-biting clash.

With the victory, Afghanistan qualified for the semifinals while Australia and Bangladesh were both eliminated from the tournament. This will be Australia’s second consecutive tournament to fail to qualify for the T20 World Cup semi-finals.

Australia in T20 World Cups So far

• 2007 – Semi-finalist
• 2009 – Group Stage
• 2010 – Runners-up
• 2012 – Semi-finalist
• 2014 – Super 8s/Super 10s/Super 12s
• 2016 – Super 8s/Super 10s/Super 12s
• 2021 – Champions
• 2022 – Super 8s/Super 10s/Super 12s
• 2024 – Super 8s/Super 10s/Super 12s

Afghanistan will play their semi final game against South Africa on June 26 in Brian Lara Stadium, Tarouba, Trinidad.