ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Afghanistan Eyes Another Good Show Against South Africa

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The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is set to begin, with debutants Afghanistan taking on South Africa in their first match. Afghanistan will aim to continue their impressive rise in white-ball cricket, while South Africa will once again attempt to shed the 'chokers' tag. The Proteas boast a well-balanced squad with a formidable batting lineup, but their biggest challenge heading into the tournament is their depleted bowling attack due to injuries to key pacers Anrich Nortje, Nandre Burger, and Gerald Coetzee.

South Africa's batting lineup will be anchored by skipper Temba Bavuma, Tony de Zorzi, Rassie van der Dussen, and Aiden Markram, while the big-hitting trio of Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, and Tristan Stubbs will provide the final flourish. Kagiso Rabada will be the Proteas' key weapon in both the powerplay and death overs, with Marco Jansen and Lungi Ngidi also expected to play crucial roles. In the spin department, Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi will have vital roles to play. The team's recent form has been inconsistent, with only four wins in their last 14 ODIs, but they will be looking to turn their fortunes around in the Champions Trophy.

Afghanistan, on the other hand, has emerged as a strong contender to make the semifinals. Their impressive performances in recent ICC events include dominant wins over England, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka in the 2023 ODI World Cup and reaching the semifinals of the T20 World Cup last year. The team's biggest strength remains their spin attack, comprising the redoubtable Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, and left-armers Noor Ahmad and Nangeyalia Kharote. Pacer Azmatullah Omarzai has been a key figure in Afghanistan's ODI success, with his ability to swing the new ball providing them the powerplay edge. The team will be looking to continue their good form and make a strong impression in the Champions Trophy.

The match between Afghanistan and South Africa is expected to be a closely contested one, with both teams having strong batting lineups and damaging bowlers. The squads for the two teams are as follows:

• 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
• 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

The match is scheduled to start at 2:30 pm IST, and fans can catch the action live on various channels and streaming platforms, including JioStar, PTV, and Sky Sports Cricket. With both teams looking to make a strong start to the tournament, the match is expected to be an enthralling encounter. The spin attack of Afghanistan and the batting lineup of South Africa will be the key factors to watch out for in the match.

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is a prestigious tournament that features the best teams in the world, and the match between Afghanistan and South Africa is expected to be one of the most exciting encounters of the tournament. With the teams having a good mix of experienced and young players, the match is expected to be a closely contested one. The fans can expect to see some exceptional cricketing skills on display, and the match is likely to be a thrilling one to watch.

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