Hashmatullah Shahidi-led Afghanistan will face Temba Bavuma’s South Africa in their opening match of the ongoing Champions Trophy on Friday, 21 February 2025, at the newly built National Bank Stadium in Karachi. With a highly versatile batting lineup, South Africa stands as one of the strongest contenders to lift the prestigious trophy. Meanwhile, Afghanistan, the breakout team of the last two ICC World Cups—ODI in 2023 and T20 in 2024—will be aiming to deliver another surprising performance in this tournament.
The last time Afghanistan and South Africa played an ODI series was in 2024 in the UAE, where Afghanistan stunned South Africa with a 2-1 series victory. Ahead of the Champions Trophy, South Africa suffered a home series defeat against Pakistan. Additionally, they lost both their matches in a triangular series against Pakistan and New Zealand, also held in Pakistan. On the other hand, Afghanistan recently secured a 2-1 ODI series win against Zimbabwe.
AFG vs SA- List of Commentators for Today Match in Champions Trophy 2025
Nasser Hussain, Ian Smith, Ian Bishop, Aaron Finch, Matthew Hayden, Ramiz Raja, Dale Steyn, Bazid Khan and Shaun Pollock are expected to commentate in today’s match.
AFG vs SA- List of Umpires for Today Match in Champions Trophy 2025
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Umpire 1 | Alex Wharf |
| Umpire 2 | Rod Tucker |
| 3rd Umpire | Richard Kettleborough |
| Match Referee | Ranjan Madugalle |
