South Africa VS Afghanistan Match Overview
- Match: Afghanistan vs South Africa, Match No. 3
- Tournament: ICC Champions Trophy 2025
- Venue: National Stadium, Karachi
- Date: Friday, February 21, 2025
- Toss Update: South Africa won the toss and opted to bat first
South Africa VS Afghanistan are set to face off in the third match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at the National Stadium in Karachi. The Proteas, led by Temba Bavuma, have a well-balanced squad with strong batting and bowling depth. On the other hand, Afghanistan, under the leadership of Hashmatullah Shahidi, has emerged as a formidable team in white-ball cricket, having beaten top teams like England, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka in recent ICC events.
South Africa VS Afghanistan Match Toss & Strategy
South Africa won the toss and decided to bat first. Their decision is based on the conditions of the pitch, which has a bit of grass and cracks that could assist bowlers early on. The team will look to put a strong total on the board and put pressure on Afghanistan’s batting lineup.
South Africa VS Afghanistan Pitch Report
Former cricketers Ian Bishop and Dale Steyn shared their insights on the pitch conditions:
- Temperature: 31°C, with mild wind and light cloud cover
- Boundary Distances:
- 67m to one side
- 62m to the other
- 79m straight down the ground
- Surface Conditions:
- Some green patches on the pitch
- Visible cracks in the 6-8m area
- Hard surface with possible sideways movement
Steyn mentioned that the South African fast bowlers, including Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi, will be eager to exploit these conditions. He suggested that bowling first could have been a good option, but South Africa chose to trust their batting strength.
South Africa VS Afghanistan Predicted Playing XIs
South Africa Playing XI:
- Ryan Rickelton (wk)
- Tony de Zorzi
- Temba Bavuma (c)
- Rassie van der Dussen
- Aiden Markram
- David Miller
- Wiaan Mulder
- Marco Jansen
- Keshav Maharaj
- Kagiso Rabada
- Lungi Ngidi
Afghanistan Playing XI:
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk)
- Ibrahim Zadran
- Sediqullah Atal
- Rahmat Shah
- Hashmatullah Shahidi (c)
- Azmatullah Omarzai
- Gulbadin Naib
- Mohammad Nabi
- Rashid Khan
- Noor Ahmad
- Fazalhaq Farooqi
Key Players to Watch Out For
South Africa:
- David Miller: Known for his finishing abilities, Miller’s performance in the middle overs will be crucial.
- Kagiso Rabada: With the pitch offering some movement, Rabada can be lethal with the new ball.
- Aiden Markram: A key all-rounder who can provide balance to the team.
Afghanistan:
- Rashid Khan: The Afghan spin wizard can trouble the South African batters with his variations.
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz: A hard-hitting opener who can give Afghanistan a flying start.
- Mohammad Nabi: His experience in middle-order batting and off-spin bowling will be vital.
South Africa VS Afghanistan Match Expectations
South Africa will aim to set a big total, leveraging their strong batting lineup. Afghanistan’s bowling attack, especially the spinners, will look to restrict the run flow and take early wickets. The match is expected to be competitive, as Afghanistan has proven to be a strong opponent against top teams in recent ICC events.
Importent Link
| News | Click Here |
