The National Stadium in Karachi is set to host Match 3 of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 between Afghanistan and South Africa. Scheduled for February 21, 2025, the match will begin at 2:00 PM local time.
The ICC Champions Trophy, one of cricket’s premier international tournaments, returns after an eight-year hiatus, generating immense excitement. As the competition gathers momentum, Afghanistan and South Africa are set to clash in the first Group B encounter. Both teams have impressed in recent ICC tournaments, often exceeding expectations. While South Africa boasts a rich cricketing history, they have yet to overcome their long-standing knockout stage struggles. Afghanistan, meanwhile, nearly reached the semifinals of the 2023 ODI World Cup and successfully made it to the last four in the 2024 T20 World Cup, demonstrating their rapid rise in international cricket.
Historically, South Africa has dominated Afghanistan in ODIs, but their last bilateral series ended in a 2-1 victory for Afghanistan, with convincing performances. This sets up an intriguing contest where neither team is a guaranteed winner. Both squads have their strongest Playing XI available, ensuring a high-quality match, though some fringe players may get a chance to make an impact.
Afghanistan will once again be led by Hashmatullah Shahidi, with seasoned campaigners Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan providing crucial experience. The opening duo of Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran will play a pivotal role in Afghanistan’s chances. When they fire, Afghanistan tends to dominate. Fazalhaq Farooqi will spearhead the pace attack, though the absence of Naveen-ul-Haq means their spin department will be the key to success.
South Africa, on the other hand, boasts a powerful batting lineup with Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, and Tristan Stubbs forming a formidable middle order capable of taking the game away in an instant. With Ryan Rickelton emerging as a reliable performer, the Proteas will look to build on their batting depth. Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen are expected to lead the pace attack, while Corbin Bosch could prove to be a game-changer with his raw speed. Keshav Maharaj or Tabraiz Shamsi may get the nod to provide spin options.
This match could well be a contest between Afghanistan’s potent spin attack and South Africa’s explosive middle order. Will Afghanistan continue their upward trajectory, or will South Africa’s experience prevail? Stay tuned for what promises to be an enthralling clash.