Afghanistan Set to Kick-Off ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Campaign Against South Africa; What to Expect and How to Watch the Match
The wait is over for Afghanistan as they are all set to start their inaugural ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign against a formidable South African side at the National Stadium in Karachi on Friday. The match is scheduled to begin at 2:30 pm IST, and fans in India can catch the action live on Star Sports Network, Sports18 Network, JioHotstar, and the Sportstar website and app.
The odds are stacked against Afghanistan, with a strong South African team looking to make a winning start to their campaign. Under the captaincy of Hashmatullah Shahidi, Afghanistan will be relying on their spinners to do the bulk of the damage, with Rashid Khan being the star attraction. However, a full-strength South African team, led by Temba Bavuma, will be a tough nut to crack for the Afghans.
Why Afghanistan Will Need to Fire on All Cylinders to Upset South Africa
To achieve a historic win, Afghanistan will need to fire on all cylinders, particularly in the batting department, where they have struggled in recent times. Opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz will be the key man, along with Ibrahim Zadran, who has shown promise in the recent past. The middle-order batsmen, such as Sediqullah Atal and Rahmat Shah, will need to contribute significantly to set the tone for the chase. Bowling-wise, Afghanistan will rely on their slow bowlers, including Fazalhaq Farooqi and Fareed Ahmad, to contain the run flow and get wickets.
South Africa’s Strengths and Weaknesses
The South African team, on the other hand, is flush with talent, with a mix of experience and youth. The top-order batsmen, including Ryan Rickelton, Aiden Markram, and Kagiso Rabada, will be looking to set the tone with their aggressive batting style. The middle-order batsmen, such as Heinrich Klaasen and Rassie van der Dussen, will need to convert their starts into significant scores. Bowling-wise, South Africa has a potent attack that can take 20 wickets on a good day. Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, and Lungi Ngidi will be the main threats for the Afghan batsmen.
How to Watch the Match in India
The match will be telecast live on Star Sports Network and Sports18 Network, while live streaming will be available on JioHotstar and the Sportstar website and app. In addition, fans can get instant updates from the match on the Sportstar website and app.
Squads:
South Africa:
- Ryan Rickelton (wicketkeeper)
- Tony de Zorzi
- Temba Bavuma (captain)
- Aiden Markram
- David Miller
- Heinrich Klaasen
- Wiaan Mulder
- Marco Jansen
- Keshav Maharaj
- Kagiso Rabada
- Lungi Ngidi
- Tabraiz Shamsi
- Tristan Stubbs
- Corbin Bosch
- Rassie van der Dussen
Afghanistan:
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wicketkeeper)
- Ibrahim Zadran
- Sediqullah Atal
- Rahmat Shah
- Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain)
- Azmatullah Omarzai
- Gulbadin Naib
- Mohammad Nabi
- Rashid Khan
- Fazalhaq Farooqi
- Noor Ahmad
- Fareed Ahmad Malik
- Ikram Alikhil
- Nangeyalia Kharote
- Naveed Zadran
Time: 2:30 pm IST, Friday, February 21
Venue: National Stadium, Karachi
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