/blog-sky365/media/media_files/2025/02/20/krZQSkgvqcdoIvdAsWP6.jpg)
Source: Cricket Addictor
Follow Us
The opening game of the ongoing Champions Trophy between Hashmatullah Shahidi's Afghanistan and Temba Bavuma's South Africa will take place on Friday at the recently rebuilt National Stadium in Karachi. Despite their inconsistent previous performance, South Africa is a strong contender to win the Golden Cup thanks to their incredibly adaptable batting lineup. Afghanistan, the standout squad from the previous two ICC World Cups (ODI in 2023 and T20 in 2024), will also try to surprise everyone in this competition.
Despite playing in their first-ever Champions Trophy, the Afghanistan team has had a fantastic run in One-Day International cricket. However, despite their recent lacklustre performances in the format, the South African squad may still be regarded as the favourite.
AFG vs SA Match 3 Details:
| Match | Afghanistan vs South Africa, Match 3, Champions Trophy 2025 |
| Venue | National Stadium, Karachi |
| Date & Time | Friday, February 21, 2025, 2:30 PM (IST) |
| Live Broadcast and Streaming Details | Sports18/Star Sports Network, JioHotstar (app & website) |
National Stadium Pitch Report:
Speaking of Karachi Stadium, the batters had trouble getting going right away in the most recent game. As the game went on, the surface appeared to get harder to play on, giving the pacers an irregular bounce while the spinners were able to gain some grip and turn. Based on the results of the last game, the captains may decide to bat first and set up a strong total to defend in the second innings.
Weather Report:
The weather for the South Africa vs. Afghanistan match in Karachi is predicted to be good. Clear skies with little to no rain are predicted. The temperature during the day is predicted to be around 30 degrees Celsius; in the evening, it will progressively drop to about 20 degrees.
Head to Head:
| Matches Played | 5 |
| Won by Afghanistan | 02 |
| Won by South Africa | 03 |
| Tied | 0 |
| No Result | 0 |
AFG vs SA Predicted Playing XI:
Afghanistan Probable Squad: Hasmatullah Shahidi (c), Mohammed Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Amatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Fareed Ahmad Malik, and Fazalhaq Farooqi.
South Africa Probable Squad: Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Temba Bavuma (c), Tony de Zorzi, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, and Tabraiz Shamsi.
Watch this space for more cricket news.
