South Africa suffered a major blow as their stand-in captain, Aiden Markram, has been uncertain for the Champions Trophy 2025 due to a hamstring injury. Markram picked up the injury during South Africa’s final league-stage match against England at the National Stadium in Karachi on Saturday. Markram, who stepped in as captain in Temba Bavuma’s absence, left the field in the 31st over after feeling discomfort. Before the match, he had mentioned that Bavuma and Tony de Zorzi were missing out due to illness. South Africa had made tactical changes, with Tristan Stubbs opening the batting. Despite these setbacks, the team looked confident going into the match. The 30-year-old batter was crucial for South Africa, having scored an unbeaten 52 in their opening game against Afghanistan. However, with his injury status unclear at the time, the team management decided to rest him unless absolutely necessary. Heinrich Klaasen took over the leadership duties after Markram’s departure. Read also: IND vs NZ Live: ICC CT 2025 Match 12 - Ball-by-Ball Commentary South Africa Secure Semi-Final Spot Amid Injury Concerns Despite Markram’s injury, South Africa dominated the game, bowling England out for just 179 in 38.2 overs. With this win, they secured a semi-final berth alongside Australia from Group B, leaving Afghanistan behind in the race. The uncertainty surrounding the knockout stage venue has also raised questions. Both Australia and South Africa are expected to travel to Dubai on Saturday night, as the semi-finals could be moved from Lahore to the UAE due to security concerns. Meanwhile, India has already booked their spot in the semis. Markram’s absence will be a significant concern for South Africa as they prepare for the high-pressure semi-final. His experience and stability in the middle order have been key to their success. The team will now have to rely on their bench strength to fill the gap. As the tournament moves into the knockout stage, South Africa will hope for a quick recovery for their captain. However, for now, Markram's Champions Trophy campaign is likely to come to an abrupt and unfortunate end.