South Africa won the toss and elected to bat first against Afghanistan in the Group B opener of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at the National Bank Stadium, Karachi. The Proteas, led by Temba Bavuma, will look to set a competitive total on a pitch known to favor batters early on, while Afghanistan, captained by Hashmatullah Shahidi, aim to capitalize on the middle overs with their strong spin attack.
Playing XIs: Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Noor Ahmad.
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South Africa: 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.
Head-to-Head: This match marks the first time Afghanistan and South Africa face off in an ICC Champions Trophy event. Historically, the two sides have met five times in One Day Internationals (ODIs), with South Africa holding a 3-2 advantage.
Key Factors: Karachi’s pitch, often a batters’ paradise in the early stages, may slow down as the match progresses, making stroke play more difficult. In recent encounters, spinners have become increasingly influential during the middle overs, and both teams will look to capitalize on this trend. Afghanistan’s bowling lineup, led by the experienced Rashid Khan and backed by Mohammad Nabi, will be eager to restrict the Proteas’ batting firepower, especially in the latter stages.
The weather is expected to remain dry, with cooler temperatures overnight. Though minimal dew is forecast, it could slightly aid batters later in the game, making the toss a crucial factor in this matchup.
South Africa, after a tough tri-series against Pakistan and New Zealand, will be keen to prove themselves in this key opening clash as they seek to shake off their ICC tournament struggles. Afghanistan, on the other hand, will aim for a strong start to boost their chances of advancing in the tournament.
