ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Afghanistan vs South Africa – Pitch Report, Playing XI
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has begun with a bang! After two blockbuster back-to-back clashes in Group A, the first encounter of Group B will feature Afghanistan and South Africa. Both teams will face off on February 21 at the National Bank Cricket Stadium in Karachi. The match is expected to be a thrilling contest, as Afghanistan has been in excellent form recently, while South Africa, having played a tri-series in Pakistan, has adapted well to the local conditions. Now, let’s take a look at the pitch report for this match.
Afghanistan vs South Africa- National Stadium, Karachi Pitch Report
The pitch at Karachi Cricket Stadium is considered favorable for batters. While the new ball may pose some challenges in the early overs, the pitch becomes easier for batting as the game progresses. Since it is a flat surface, spinners do not get much assistance, leading to high-scoring matches. However, if dew comes into play in this day-night fixture, it could influence the game. Given these conditions, the team winning the toss will likely opt to bowl first.
Looking at the statistics of the Karachi ground, a total of 57 ODI matches have been played here. Out of these, the team batting first has won 27 times, while the chasing team has won 28 times, with 2 matches ending without a result. The average first-innings score at this venue is 276, while the highest ODI total recorded here is 374. With these stats, a high-scoring battle between South Africa and Afghanistan is expected.
Probable Playing XI for Both Teams
South Africa:
- Temba Bavuma (Captain)
- Ryan Rickelton
- Aiden Markram
- Rassie van der Dussen
- Heinrich Klaasen (Wicketkeeper)
- David Miller
- Wiaan Mulder
- Marco Jansen
- Keshav Maharaj
- Lungi Ngidi
- Kagiso Rabada
Afghanistan:
- Sediqullah Atal
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Wicketkeeper)
- Ibrahim Zadran
- Rahmat Shah
- Hashmatullah Shahidi (Captain)
- Azmatullah Omarzai
- Mohammad Nabi
- Rashid Khan
- Noor Ahmad
- Fareed Ahmad
- Fazalhaq Farooqi
With both teams packed with talented players, this encounter promises to be an exciting clash!
