The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy’s Group B gets underway with a thrilling clash between Afghanistan and South Africa at Karachi’s National Stadium on Friday, February 21. It’s a match-up between Afghanistan—the darlings of the last two global tournaments—and a South African side haunted by near-misses in ICC events.
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Afghanistan vs South Africa: Match Preview
Afghanistan will make their Champions Trophy debut after an impressive 2023 ODI World Cup campaign, where they narrowly missed the semifinals. Since then, they’ve won four of their last five bilateral series, including victories over Ireland and Zimbabwe (neither of whom qualified for this tournament), and reached the T20 World Cup semifinals. In short, they arrive with momentum, eyeing what could be a historic first major ICC title—potentially before South Africa can finally secure another. South Africa have suffered defeats in three of their four ODI appearances at this venue.
South Africa, for their part, did win this tournament’s inaugural edition in 1998 (then known as the ICC Knockout), triumphing in a brutal knockout format where a single loss meant elimination. Back then, they won three straight to lift the trophy. The path to glory is different now—five matches with room for one slip-up—but recent form raises questions. Since the 2023 ODI World Cup, the Proteas have lost three of their four bilateral ODI series and suffered six consecutive defeats in the format. However, that record is deceptive. They’ve used those games to experiment, capping ten new players. With their best squad finally assembled, as evidenced by last year’s T20 World Cup final appearance, they can’t be underestimated.
Afghanistan’s explosive opening pair of Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz will face South Africa’s fiery seamers, while the Proteas’ powerful middle order must contend with Afghanistan’s world-class spin attack. Those head-to-head battles could decide the contest. Afghanistan, meanwhile, have played just two of their 175 ODIs on Pakistani soil, both in Lahore during the 2023 Asia Cup, where they lost to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
This isn’t unfamiliar territory for either side. Just last September, Afghanistan secured a 2-1 ODI series win over South Africa in Sharjah. Friday’s game, however, sees the Proteas bolstered by returning stars who missed that series, which should balance the scales. Their last ICC tournament clash came at the 2024 T20 World Cup semifinal, where South Africa routed Afghanistan for just 56 runs on a challenging Tarouba pitch and chased the target with ease. Karachi’s surface will offer a fairer test of both teams’ abilities.
Elsewhere in Group B, Australia and England—traditionally heavyweights—arrive in poor shape. The Aussies have lost their last four ODIs, while England stumbled through a dismal tour of India, winning just once in eight white-ball matches. In that context, Afghanistan vs South Africa could be the group’s most pivotal fixture.
Politics looms over this encounter. South Africa’s sports minister, Gayton McKenzie, criticized Afghanistan’s inclusion, likening the Taliban regime’s treatment of women to Apartheid and calling participation “hypocritical and immoral.” Cricket South Africa, however, disagrees. They’ve not only honored this fixture but also arranged an additional series against Afghanistan—one not initially listed on the Future Tours Programme (FTP). The debate isn’t isolated; Australia and England, Afghanistan’s upcoming opponents, have faced domestic pressure to boycott, though both have confirmed they’ll play.
Afghanistan’s captain, Hashmatullah Shahidi, addressed the controversy, saying, “As sportsmen, our job is to play cricket. We don’t care what’s going on outside. We can only control the things in the ground, so we focus on that.”
Karachi’s National Stadium will be awash with emotion—and a heavy Afghan presence. Pakistan hosts approximately 3.1 million Afghan refugees (over 7% of Afghanistan’s population), with around 360,000 in Karachi alone. Filling the 30,000-seat stadium won’t be an issue, and the Afghan players are likely to feel right at home. Afghanistan’s cricketing roots lie in Pakistan, where many players learned the game after fleeing during the 1990s Taliban regime, which had banned cricket until 2000. Despite their progress, Afghanistan have never played a home international. Of their 327 matches, 202 have been at neutral venues and 125 away.
South African cricket, meanwhile, enjoys a special place in Pakistani hearts—perhaps due to both nations’ rich history of producing world-class fast bowlers. Temba Bavuma’s men will hope for that goodwill, especially given the expected crowd support for Afghanistan.
The ground’s ODI record is almost evenly split: teams batting first have secured 27 wins, while those chasing have emerged victorious on 28 occasions.
Afghanistan vs South Africa: Head-to-head
- Matches Played: 5
- Won by Afghanistan: 2
- Won by South Africa: 3
- Tied: 0
- No Result: 0
- First-ever Fixture: 15 June 2019
- Most-recent Fixture: 22 September 2024
Afghanistan vs South Africa: Pitch Report
Karachi has proven to be a batting haven, with New Zealand posting 320 runs in the tournament opener on Wednesday and Pakistan pulling off a record-breaking chase of 353 against South Africa in last week’s mini tri-series. Similar conditions are anticipated for this clash. South Africa’s bowlers, particularly their spinners, have focused on refining their defensive tactics, hinting at a high-scoring affair where batters can capitalize on the run-friendly pitch.
Afghanistan, meanwhile, anticipate strong support from the large expatriate community in Karachi, giving them a near home-ground advantage. Expect a hot, dry day-night encounter on one of cricket’s flattest surfaces—rivaled only by those in Lahore and Rawalpindi—where a total nearing 600 runs could be on the cards.
Afghanistan vs South Africa: Recent Form
South Africa: LLLLL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Afghanistan: WWWLW
Afghanistan vs South Africa: Team News and Predicted XI
Afghanistan – Team News
Ibrahim Zadran is poised to feature in Afghanistan’s playing XI for the first time since March, having recovered from an ankle injury. He recently gained some batting time in the ILT20, aiding his return to form.
With AM Ghazanfar sidelined due to a back issue, Afghanistan faces a selection call between left-arm wrist-spinner Noor Ahmed, who impressed in the SA20, and left-arm finger-spinner Nangeyalia Kharote. Whichever way they go, the spin department will be well-rounded, complemented by Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi, while a quartet of seamers adds further balance to the attack.
Afghanistan – Predicted XI
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk)
- Ibrahim Zadran
- Sediqullah Atal
- Rahmat Shah
- Hashmatullah Shahidi (capt)
- Azmatullah Omarzai
- Gulbadin Naib
- Mohammad Nabi
- Nangyal Kharoti
- Rashid Khan
- Noor Ahmad
South Africa – Team News
South Africa’s deep batting order might see both Ryan Rickelton and Tristan Stubbs left out. With Aiden Markram offering useful offspin, they could opt for just one specialist spinner in Keshav Maharaj, making space for seam-bowling allrounders Wiaan Mulder and Marco Jansen, along with two additional pace options.
Tony de Zorzi, despite scoring 55 off 51 against Pakistan Shaheens in Karachi on Monday, has managed only two fifties in his last 18 innings across formats, which may jeopardize his spot in the starting XI.
South Africa – Predicted XI
- 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
Afghanistan vs South Africa: Players To Watch Out For
Noor Ahmed and Rashid Khan (Afghanistan)
Afghanistan benefit from recent exposure to South African players through the SA20, where several of their squad members participated. Noor Ahmed and Rashid Khan stood out, finishing as the top wicket-takers for their respective teams—Noor for Durban Super Giants and Rashid (joint with Rabada) for MI Cape Town.
Although South Africa has made notable strides in handling spin, they occasionally falter, a vulnerability Afghanistan aims to capitalize on with their premier spinners.
David Miller and Kagiso Rabada (South Africa)
South Africa’s white-ball coach Rob Walter’s belief in star players delivering on big occasions will face a crucial test in this tournament, with David Miller and Kagiso Rabada under the spotlight. As the only squad members boasting over 100 ODI appearances, Miller leads the batting charge while Rabada anchors the bowling attack.
Miller benefits from a solid top-order platform, whereas Rabada must navigate conditions likely to challenge the bowlers. Both will be relied upon for their composure and experience as South Africa chase tournament glory.
Afghanistan vs South Africa: Match Prediction
Scenario 1
- Toss: Afghanistan win the toss and opt to bat first
- Powerplay Score: 60-70
- Afghanistan Total: 260-280
- Match Result: Afghanistan wins the match
Scenario 2
- Toss: South Africa win the toss and opt to bat first
- Powerplay Score: 70-90
- South Africa Total: 270-290
- Match Result: South Africa wins the match
When and Where To Watch Afghanistan vs South Africa LIVE? Broadcast and Streaming Details
The ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 Group B encounter between Afghanistan and South Africa is scheduled for Friday, February 21, at the Dubai National Stadium in Karachi.
The match will commence at 2:30 PM IST, with the toss set for 2:00 PM. Fans can watch the live broadcast on the Star Sports Network, while live streaming will be available on the JioHotstar app and website.
Read More: Afghanistan Team Preview for Champions Trophy 2025: Giant-Slayers Afghanistan are Serious Contenders for Semi-Finals
Also Read: South Africa Team Preview for Champions Trophy 2025: The Proteas’ Semi-Final Hopes Rest on Big Stars Delivering Under Pressure
FAQs
When and where will the Afghanistan vs South Africa ODI be played?
The match will take place on February 21, 2024, at the National Stadium in Karachi.
What is the head-to-head record between Afghanistan and South Africa in ODIs?
Out of five ODIs played, South Africa has won three while Afghanistan has won two.
What are the pitch and weather conditions for the Afghanistan vs South Africa match?
A high-scoring game is expected on a flat pitch, with hot and dry day-night conditions likely to favor batters.
Which key players should watch out for in the Afghanistan vs South Africa clash?
Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmed will spearhead the spin attack, while South Africa relies on experienced stars David Miller and Kagiso Rabada.
How have both teams performed at the National Stadium, Karachi?
South Africa has lost three of its four ODIs at the venue, while Afghanistan is playing its first ODI at this ground.
