ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Afghanistan vs South Africa Match Preview

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The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is set to kick off, and one of the most anticipated matches is between Afghanistan and South Africa. The two teams will face off in the third match of Group B, and it promises to be an exciting encounter. Afghanistan has been in great form, winning eight of their last 10 completed ODIs, including a 2-1 series win over South Africa in Sharjah in September. However, South Africa has a strong team and will be looking to get back to winning ways after losing six consecutive ODIs.

The match will be played at the International Stadium in Karachi, and the pitch is expected to be flat and conducive to batting. The weather forecast suggests a hot and dry day, which could favor the team batting first. Afghanistan has a strong batting lineup, with players like Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmat Shah in good form. Their bowling attack, led by Rashid Khan, is also capable of taking wickets on any surface. South Africa, on the other hand, has a strong bowling attack, with players like Kagiso Rabada and Tabraiz Shamsi, but their batting lineup has been inconsistent of late.

The team news suggests that Afghanistan will be without some of their key players, but they still have a strong squad. Ibrahim Zadran is set to play his first international since returning from an ankle injury, and he will be a key player for Afghanistan. South Africa, on the other hand, has a full-strength squad, and they will be looking to make a strong start to the tournament. The probable XI for Afghanistan includes Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Nangyal Kharoti, Rashid Khan, and Noor Ahmad. The probable XI for South Africa includes Temba Bavuma, Ryan Rickelton, Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen, Marco Jansen, Wiaan Mulder, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, and Tabraiz Shamsi.

Some interesting statistics to note are:

• South Africa has lost three of the four ODIs they have played at this ground.
• Only two of Afghanistan's 175 ODIs have been in Pakistan. Both were in Lahore, where they were beaten by Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in the 2023 Asia Cup.
• Teams batting first in ODIs at this ground have won 27 times. Teams fielding first? Twenty-eight times.

The ICC Champions Trophy is a prestigious tournament, and both teams will be looking to make a strong impression. The match is expected to be a close one, with both teams having a good chance of winning. The tournament is being played in Pakistan, and the support of the local crowd could play a big role in the outcome of the match.

In conclusion, the match between Afghanistan and South Africa promises to be an exciting encounter. Both teams have a strong squad, and the pitch and weather conditions are expected to favor batting. The team that wins the toss may choose to bat first, and the team that bowls well could have an advantage. The match is scheduled to start at 14:00 local time, and it will be interesting to see how both teams perform. The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is a cricket tournament that is being closely followed by fans all over the world, and this match is expected to be one of the most exciting encounters of the tournament.

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