Afghanistan vs South Africa in Karachi on Friday, Group B’s inaugural Champions Trophy match promises to be among the most memorable ones at this level of competition. Though powerhouses like Australia and England are there, everyone will be focused on this fascinating clash.
Team Structure and Important Attributes
Having lost their past four ODIs, Australia joins the tournament suffering; England shows up following a difficult run in India, having only one of their last eight white-ball victories. Too South Africa has had challenges; it lost six straight ODIs. They are a strong side, albeit, devoid of several of their important players—who are now back.
Conversely, Afghanistan has been in outstanding form; they have won eight of their past ten completed ODIs. Their confidence is much raised by their most recent 2-1 triumph against South Africa in Sharjah. Although Afghanistan has seldom been seen as favourites versus South Africa, this might be a turning point particularly with the return of first-choice players levelling the field.
Special Connection Afghanistan Has with Pakistan
Pakistan has a strong bond with South African cricket mostly because both countries have a history of turning out elite fast bowlers. Still, the audience in Karachi is likely to be full of Afghans. With about 3.1 million Afghan refugees living in Pakistan, 360,000 of them live in Karachi alone, therefore guaranteeing tremendous support for Afghanistan in this game.
Since many of its players honed their talents as refugees in Pakistan during the 1990s when the Taliban had outlawed cricket, Afghan cricket also has a historical link with that nation. Afghanistan has never played an international match at home due to political unrest; most of their games are played on neutral locations.
Political Context and Match Background
Some cricketing countries have demanded a boycott of Afghanistan matches because of the Taliban’s comeback to power in 2021 and its restrictive practices against women. Though they have not pulled from tournament events, Australia and England have halted bilateral series against Afghanistan. Speaking on this subject, Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi underlined that his squad is entirely focused on cricket and does not deal with other concerns.
During the T20 World Cup, when South Africa destroyed Afghanistan by bowled them out for just 56 runs, these two sides last crossed in an ICC tournament. But Karachi’s pitch will be a far more level field for competition.
Match Information
February 21, 14:00 Local, 11:00 SAT, 14:30 IST, date and time
Location: National Stadium Karachi
Conditions: hot and dry with a high-scoring pitch; predicted to yield about 600 runs.
Probable Playing XIs Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (capt), Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Nangyal Kharoti, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad
Temba Bavuma (capt), Ryan Rickelton, Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Marco Jansen, Wiaan Mulder, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi South Africa.
Important Statistics & Observations
Out of the four ODIs South Africa has played in Karachi, they have lost three.
Afghanistan has just two ODIs in Pakistan, at Lahore, losing to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup 2023.
Teams batting first and chasing at this ground have almost the same records—27 wins against 28 wins.
What Said Hashmatullah Shahidi?
” Many Pashtun supporters of our club reside in Pakistan. With hopefully their support right here with us. We give 100% to satisfy them.
Temba Bavuma: “Afghanistan is a formidable squad, especially under these conditions. Their unknown swing bowlers and spinners will provide difficulties.
Notes of Final Thought
Afghanistan’s recent form and home-like support in Karachi make this a fierce struggle even if South Africa is entering as the superior squad on paper. In what may be a Champions Trophy defining moment, expect an exciting fight. Source cricbuzz
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