🏏Champions Trophy 2025: Afghanistan vs South Africa, Match-3, Group B - Page 4

Ram: "My prediction - These 2 teams will qualify for the semis from this group" Brave call. Love to see it

The action shifts back to the National Stadium in Karachi and we'll get the first glimpse of Group B with Afghanistan taking on South Africa. On paper, both teams look strong, but Afghanistan do have the advantage of playing in conditions more suitable for their style of cricket. South Africa arrived early and played a couple of games in the recently concluded tri-series, but domestic T20 commitments meant that it wasn't a first-choice XI for either of the matches that they ended up losing. Injuries have forced them into changes, especially in the bowling front, but the batting remains extremely strong and capable of winning matches by themselves. On the other hand, Afghanistan have been more than decent in recent ICC tournaments - they beat Pakistan, England and Sri Lanka during the 2023 ICC World Cup and followed it up by reaching the semi-finals of the 2024 T20 World Cup, their first-ever entry into a knockout game of an ICC event. It's a confident unit led by Hasmatullah Shahidi and they'll be keen to express themselves in yet another big ticket event.

Meanwhile, this generation of South African cricket strives to establish itself as arguably the best cross-format team once again, after a brief blip in recent years. Semifinal at the ODI World Cup, final at the T20 World Cup, and a World Test Championship final at Lord’s to look forward to, that’s all well and good for Temba Bavuma’s spirited and talented unit. But at home, and from shores abroad, the question is the same: where is the silverware to commemorate all that good work?

The pieces are all there. A phenomenal middle order with Tristan Stubbs, Heinrich Klaasen, and David Miller, experienced pros in Aiden Markram and Bavuma, spin through Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi, a pace attack led by Kagiso Rabada, inarguably the best seamer in the competition still left standing. This team has made a habit of making deep runs in tournaments, but they still need that extra oomph to get over the line.

They will, however, not consider the Afghanistan team to be pushovers by any means. These two teams have only competed in five ODIs ever, and it’s a narrow 3-2 lead for South Africa in terms of head-to-head. One of the South African wins came all the way back in the 2019 World Cup, which may as well be 60 years ago and not just 6 in terms of how rapidly the Afghans have progressed. South Africa’s batting was dominated by Afghanistan’s bowling twice in Sharjah last year, so the wariness and the respect against this opposition will be very, very real from the Proteas.

Both teams will have the benefit of having watched the opening match of this tournament played in Karachi, and will know what the pitch will play like. With minimal movement and plenty of runs to be had, the powerful hitters on both teams will be licking their lips — but this also means it could very easily come down to how well Rashid Khan performs, and if he can break the spin-vulnerable batting of South Africa. They will miss the massively talented Allah Ghazanfar, but have able replacements in Noor Ahmad and Mujeeb-ur-Rahman. Similarly, can Rabada, Jansen and company be potent for the Proteas if the pitch doesn’t offer their bowlers too much lateral movement? In a wide-open Group B, this promises to be a hugely significant contest.

Afghanistan's first appearance in the tournament shows just how far they have progressed within a decade of being Full Members. While that gives them confidence, they're not under pressure according to captain Hashmatullah Shahidi.

Ram: "My prediction - These 2 teams will qualify for the semis from this group" Brave call. Love to see it

Khan Agha Ahmad: "first ever appearance for Afghanistan in CT. best of luck team blue."

Wilfred : "Good afternoon team CricinfoServe us the best back here in Zimbabwe " Certainly, please get comfy

Miller and Rabada are the only two SA players with more than 100 ODI caps in this squad. Miller will need to contribute with the bat, but also has the advantage of a strong top order. But Rabada will need to lead the bowling attack, and will hope to be supported today.

AFG eye revenge

South Africa vs Afghanistan LIVE Score: Both teams last met at an ICC event during last year’s T20 World Cup, when they faced each other in the semi-finals. South Africa reigned supreme, winning by nine wickets with 67 balls to spare. Afghanistan have won eight of their last 10 completed ODIs, including a 2-1 series win vs South Africa in September. They are in good form, and will look for a strong start!

Rashid Khan still the talisman

South Africa vs Afghanistan LIVE Score: Afghanistan are no longer in a position where their hopes begin and end with Rashid Khan’s wickets, but that doesn’t mean the phenomenal leg-spinner isn’t a threat to any team he faces. Even in the series against South Africa last year, he led the wicket-taking tally, including a five-fer. Add to that all the experience he has against South Africa’s batters in franchise leagues around the world, and there is no question that the wily leggie will have something up his sleeve for some of the strongest hitters in world cricket.

Abhijeet: "Afghanistan look like favorites to me along with Australia given to the way the 2 others have struggled in subcontinent. I still fancy the Afghans beating both South Africa and England in this group given to their spin power. "

The weather in Karachi is good as of now. 29 degrees is the reading as per Google. There are light clouds but it is bright. The players are out practicing, lot of activity around the square. Not many people in the stands yet.

South Africa's pacers are the key components of their bowling line-up, but what is the role of the spinners?

Abhijeet: "Afghanistan look like favorites to me along with Australia given to the way the 2 others have struggled in subcontinent. I still fancy the Afghans beating both South Africa and England in this group given to their spin power. "

Pitch Report: The weather conditions promise a nice day of cricket, 31 degree Celsius with a nice wind blowing across the stadium. Talking about the boundary dimensions, to my right, it’s 67m and to my left is 62m and it’s 79m down the ground. Some greenery on this surface. There’s some colour, there are some cracks and then it’s hard. I didn’t expect grass but in this case, there might be some sideways movement. The cracks are in the 6-8m area. The South African seamers will be licking their lips looking at this. I will probably have a bowl first, there’s cracks, there’s grass, you want to take a couple of wickets early and put the pressure on the opposition. It may be a bowling surface, reckon Ian Bishop and Dale Steyn.