South Africa and Afghanistan will feature in the first Group B game of the Champions Trophy 2025.
By CricTracker Staff
Published – 20 Feb 2025, 12:52 IST | Updated – 20 Feb 2025, 13:25 IST
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Champions Trophy 2025: Match 3, AFG vs SA Match Prediction – Who will win today’s Champions Trophy match between AFG vs SA? (Source: Getty Images)00
Preview
February 21 will feature the first game of group B which will take place between Afghanistan and South Africa at the National Stadium in Karachi. This is set to be a battle between the mighty Proteas and the debuting underdogs who have taken the cricketing world by storm with some talented players in the mix.
The Afghanistan team might be playing their first-ever Champions Trophy but have enjoyed a great run in ODI cricket. Hasmatullah Shahidi-led side has won their last four ODI series going into the tournament which also includes a 2-1 victory against South Africa. This is enough to give them confidence going into the ICC event.
The South African team on the other hand might still be considered favourites but their last few encounters in the format have been underwhelming so far. The side has faced a lot of injuries and ended the Tri-series on a terrible note not losing all their games. It is safe to say that the T20 World Cup 2024 finalists will be under pressure going into the tournament.
Match Details
| Match | Afghanistan vs South Africa, Match 3, Champions Trophy 2025 |
| Venue | National Stadium, Karachi |
| Date & Time | Friday, February 21, 2025, 2:30 PM (IST) |
| Live Broadcast and Streaming Details | Sports18/Star Sports Network, JioHotstar (app & website) |
Pitch Report
Speaking of the Stadium in Karachi the last game saw the batters struggle to get going straight away. The surface seemed to get tougher to play on as the game progressed where the pacers got some uneven bounce and the spinners managed to get some grip and turn. Looking at the previous game the captains might consider batting first and putting on a formidable total to defend in the second innings.
Head-to-head record
| Matches Played | 5 |
| Won by Afghanistan | 02 |
| Won by South Africa | 03 |
| Tied | 0 |
| No Result | 0 |
| First-ever Fixture | 15 Jun 2019 |
| Most-recent Fixture | 22 Sep 2024 |
AFG vs SA Predicted Playing XIs
Afghanistan:
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hasmatullah Shahidi (c), Amatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Fazalhaq Farooqi.
South Africa:
Temba Bavuma (c), Tony de Zorzi, Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi.
AFG vs BAN probable best performers
Probable best batter: Heinrich Klaasen
Heinrich Klaasen (Source -Twitter)
The last match in Karachi witnessed the spinners getting some grip from the wicket and the player who knows how to counter-attack the spinners is Heinrich Klaasen. Klassen has proved to be one of the most destructive middle-order batters and this is the ground where he can once again showcase his abilities.
Probable best bowler: Rashid Khan
Rashid Khan. (Source – Getty Images)
Rashid Khan has already established himself as a living legend in the Afghanistan side. The 26-year-old spin-bowling all-rounder has been consistent with his form when it comes to taking wickets and is always a dangerous player in the white-ball format.
Today’s Match Prediction: Team batting first to win the match
Scenario 1
- Afghanistan win the toss and opt to bat first.
- Powerplay: 60-70
- AFG: 260-280
- Afghanistan wins the match.
Scenario 2
- South Africa win the toss and opt to bat first.
- Powerplay: 70-90
- SA: 270-290
- South Africa wins the match.
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