The two-time champions may be forced to change their line-up for the cut-throat semi-final. Australia may be forced to re-shuffle their side for their semi-final encounter at the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 after opener Matt Short hurt his calf against Afghanistan on Friday.

Short injured his calf while fielding and appeared hampered when making a quickfire 20 at the top of Australia's batting order before rain saw the match with Afghanistan in Lahore abandoned.

They may have to find a new opener for the match, with skipper Steve Smith revealing Short will be unlikely to be fit in time for the cut-throat semi-final.

'I think he'll be struggling,' Smith said of Short's injury status.

'I think we saw tonight he wasn't moving very well and I think it's probably going to be too quick between games for him to recover.'

Inexperienced top-order batter Jake Fraser-McGurk looms as the most likely replacement for Short should Australia need to alter their side for the semi-finals, while Smith may consider moving himself to the top of the order to partner Travis Head so the side could introduce an extra bowling option.

All-rounders Sean Abbott and Aaron Hardie are also in Australia's 15-player squad at the Champions Trophy, while spinner Tanveer Sangha is another potential player that could ea a place int he side for the semi-finals.

'We've got a few guys there to come in to fill a job and we are looking forward to that,' Smith added. (ICC)