Karachi: England and South Africa clashed on March 1, 2025, at the National Stadium for the final group-stage match of the ICC Champions Trophy. England, already eliminated from the tournament, faced South Africa, who were vying for a spot in the semi-finals. The stakes were high for South Africa, needing a victory to secure their advancement.
England won the toss and opted to bat first. Captain Jos Buttler, who announced his decision to step down from captaincy after this match, shared his thoughts during the toss: "We are gonna bat first. It looks a good surface and we saw the game between South Africa and Afghanistan here and it looked like it was the right decision to bat. It felt like it was the right time to step down from captaincy. So, didn't take much time to take the decision. Just got the clarity and have to move on and give the other guy to step in and get England to greater heights. Looking forward to leading the side for one final time today," Buttler said.
South Africa’s captain, Aiden Markram, noted the team’s strategy, expressing readiness to chase the target. He said, "We are actually happy to chase. We haven't chased yet in this competition, so it will be challenging against this quality English team. Looking forward to it." He added some unfortunate news for the team, stating, "We have got some illness going around for us. Tony de Zorzi and Temba are the two guys who are there in the team hotel. Unfortunately, we don’t have them playing today. If we qualify for the semis, hopefully, we have them back on the side."
Both teams made key changes for the match. England brought Saqib Mahmood to replace Mark Wood, who was out due to injury. The final playing XI for England included: Ben Duckett, Philip Salt, Jamie Smith (wk), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (c), Liam Livingstone, Jamie Overton, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, and Saqib Mahmood. South Africa, meanwhile, included Tristan Stubbs, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram (c), Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, and Lungi Ngidi.
This match not only marked the end of England's campaign but also represented a significant moment for Jos Buttler, who reflected on his tenure: "It’s been an honor to captain your country; something you dream about. Honored to do it one last time and would like to go out with a good performance." Buttler's leadership has been highlighted by his aggressive batting style and tactical awareness, leaving behind mixed emotions as he prepares to leave the captaincy.
For South Africa, it was about sealing their entry to the knockout stages. Markram reinforced the need for commercial persistence as they entered the fixture against England, deeming it pivotal: "This is our chance to finish at the top of Group B, and we are ready for this game after our last match against Australia got rained out."
With both teams geared up for the confrontation, spectators had set high expectations for the match, with England aiming for pride on their exit from the tournament and South Africa targeting victory to secure their future.