Champions Trophy: Afghanistan vs South Africa; Schedule and Viewing Details

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Afghanistan makes its Champions Trophy debut.
- South Africa seeks redemption after past ICC disappointments.
- Key players include Temba Bavuma and Rashid Khan.
- The match will be held at the National Stadium in Karachi.
- Live broadcast available on Star Sports and JioHotstar.
Karachi, Feb 20 (NationPress) Afghanistan is set to make its Champions Trophy debut against South Africa at the newly renovated National Stadium in Karachi this coming Wednesday. Under the leadership of Hashmatullah Shahidi, Afghanistan has gained recognition as a formidable underdog in international competitions, having shown remarkable skill in both the 2023 ODI World Cup and 2024 T20 World Cup.
On the other hand, South Africa, guided by Temba Bavuma, possesses a potent and versatile batting lineup, positioning them as serious title contenders despite some recent form fluctuations.
Historically, Afghanistan and South Africa have clashed in ODIs five times, with South Africa holding a slight edge at 3-2. Nevertheless, Afghanistan achieved a historic milestone last year by winning their first ODI series against South Africa, finishing the series 2-1 in Sharjah.
This match signifies Afghanistan’s inaugural appearance in the Champions Trophy, while South Africa aims to break free from their history of near misses in ICC tournaments. Their last significant setback occurred during the 2024 T20 World Cup final, where they narrowly lost to India. It’s worth noting that Afghanistan reached the semifinals in that event before being defeated by the Proteas. In the 2017 Champions Trophy, South Africa was unable to progress past the group stage as rain thwarted their chances of reaching the semifinals.
South Africa's batting strength is highlighted by skipper Temba Bavuma, who boasts an ODI average of 43.32, alongside Heinrich Klaasen and Rassie van der Dussen, both averaging over 44. Their bowling lineup includes Kagiso Rabada, who has taken 162 ODI wickets at an average of 27.56, and Marco Jansen, who claimed 17 wickets during the 2023 World Cup.
Conversely, Afghanistan features several key players in excellent form, such as Azmatullah Omarzai, who recorded an impressive average exceeding 50 with the bat and below 21 with the ball in 2024, earning him the title of ODI Player of the Year.
Rashid Khan excelled with 15 wickets at an extraordinary average of 12.46, while both Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Mohammad Nabi made significant contributions with bat and ball. With a mix of seasoned players and emerging talents, both teams are eager to assert themselves in their Champions Trophy journey.
The National Stadium in Karachi has traditionally favored batsmen, and recent games indicate this trend will persist. The average first-innings score hovers around 240, but recent matches have seen totals approach the 300-mark, notably when Pakistan successfully chased over 350 against New Zealand at this venue.
The pitch is anticipated to be flat and hard, providing good pace and bounce, which should facilitate aggressive stroke play. While fast bowlers may find some assistance with the new ball under lights, the surface is likely to favor batters as the match advances. Spinners might come into play during the latter stages of the innings, a pattern observed in Pakistan’s tournament opener against New Zealand.
Match details: Where and when to watch
Time: The AFG vs SA match is scheduled for Friday at 2:30 PM, with the toss set for 2 PM (IST).
Venue: The match will take place at the National Cricket Stadium, Karachi.
Broadcast: Fans can watch the match live on Star Sports and Network 18 channels. Additionally, the AFG vs SA match will be streamed live on JioHotstar.
Squads:
Afghanistan: Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Ikram Alikhil, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharoti, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Farid Malik, Naveed Zadran.
Reserves: Darwish Rasooli, Bilal Sami.
South Africa: Temba Bavuma (c), Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs, Rassie van der Dussen, Corbin Bosch.
Travelling reserve: Kwena Maphaka.