Afghanistan and South Africa Set to Clash in ICC Champions Trophy Opener
The ICC Champions Trophy is all set to kick off with a thrilling encounter between Afghanistan and South Africa at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi on Friday. Afghanistan, participating in the tournament for the first time, will look to make a winning start, while South Africa will aim to build on their momentum from the 2023 ODI World Cup.
Preview of the Match
The two teams met in a three-match series in September 2024 in the United Arab Emirates, with Afghanistan emerging victorious with a 2-1 win. However, South Africa had the upper hand in the ODI World Cup, securing a 5-wicket win over Afghanistan. This fixture promises to be an intense contest, with both teams seeking to make a strong statement in the tournament.
Squads and Predicted Lineups
Afghanistan:
- Wicketkeeper: Rahmanullah Gurbaz
- Top-order batsmen: Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah
- All-rounders: Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib
- Spinners: Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad
- Fast bowlers: Fazalhaq Farooqi, Mohammad Nangyal Kharoti, Naveed Zadran
South Africa:
- Captain: Temba Bavuma
- Wicketkeeper: Heinrich Klaasen
- Top-order batsmen: Ryan Rickelton, Matthew Breetzke, Rassie van der Dussen
- All-rounders: Marco Jansen, David Miller, Wiaan Mulder
- Fast bowlers: Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi
Dream Eleven Fantasy Team
This fantasy team is based on the predicted lineups and player performances in recent matches. The lineup consists of:
- Wicketkeepers: Heinrich Klaasen (vc), Rahmanullah Gurbaz
- Top-order batsmen: Rassie van der Dussen, Ibrahim Zadran, David Miller
- All-rounders: Marco Jansen (c), Azmatullah Omarzai
- Bowlers: Kagiso Rabada, Rashid Khan, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Lungi Ngidi
Squads
The full squads for both teams are listed below:
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. Reserves: Darwish Rasooli, Bilal Sami.
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 promises to be an exhilarating contest, with both teams eager to secure a winning start in the ICC Champions Trophy. Will Afghanistan’s young and talented lineup be able to upset the experienced South African team, or will the Proteas’ depth and experience prevail? Stay tuned to find out!
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