Afghanistan eye South Africa’s scalp in bid for semi-finals

A rematch of the semi-final of the 2024 T20 World Cup semi-final this is not, despite the presence of the same two opponents, because in the ODI format Afghanistan have the wood over South Africa after their most recent meeting. 

Afghanistan, after losing badly to the Proteas in the T20 World Cup semi-final last year, closed out 2024 by beating them 2-1 in an ODI series in Sharjah. 

Game three of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy pits the two teams against each other in Karachi on Friday (February 21) where South Africa have played recently during a winless run in the tri-series. Conditions will not be the same in Karachi but given the experience that many of the Afghanistan squad have of playing in Pakistan, as well as South Africa’s losing run of late, this is a more even contest than widely believed. 

Lose a match in this tournament, as Pakistan did on day one, and you are staring at elimination. South Africa and their history of heartbreak at ICC events know that better than any team. Afghanistan, it can be argued, have nothing to lose. 

This is their first appearance at the Champions Trophy, and despite not having the immensely bright talent AM Ghazanfar due an injury (fractured vertebra) sustained just before the tournament, they are a very tough team to beat in Group B. More so, it can be argued, than England and a badly hit Australia. 

As witnessed during the 2023 ODI World Cup when they came within striking distance of the semi-finals – or, you could say, one freak Glenn Maxwell innings away – Afghanistan are not intimidated by the opposition or the big stage. And they have more than an outside chance of making the semi-finals, given how depleted Australia are, how out of form South Africa are and how disinterested England have looked in ODIs for a while. 

A cursory glance at Afghanistan’s Champions Trophy squad shows the talent on view. Wily spinners, a robust opening pair, two seasoned players in Rahmat Shah and skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi at three and four in the lineup, versatile pace-bowling allrounders in Azmatullah Omarzai and Gulbadin Naib and a proven wicket-taker in Fazalhaq Farooqi. This makes for a form ODI team, and one that makes its Champions Trophy debut with the semi-finals firmly in their sights. 

South Africa have plenty of big names, but doubts linger of their form. Since the 2023 World Cup, South Africa – exactly like England – have won four of 14 ODIs (including two against Ireland). Most recently, they lost both matches of the Pakistan tri-series after posting totals of 304 and 352. They have rarely fielded a full-strength side during this period and have been hit by injuries to Anrich Nortje and Gerald Coetzee. 

No doubt this South African side has plenty of talent, but in Afghanistan first up lies a banana skin that Temba Bavuma’s team will have to avoid slipping on. Don’t rule out an Afghanistan win, because this team has shed the tag of dark horses. They are genuine semi-final contenders. 

Afghanistan probable 11: 1 Ibrahim Zadran, 2 Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 3 Rahmat Shah, 4 Hashmatullah Shahidi (capt), 5 Azmatullah Omarzai, 6 Gulbadin Naib, 7 Mohammad Nabi, 8 Rashid Khan, 9 Noor Ahmad, 10 Naveed Zadran, 11 Fazalhaq Farooqi

South Africa probable 11: 1 Temba Bavuma (capt), 2 Ryan Rickleton, 3 Rassie van der Dussen, 4 Aiden Markram, 5 Heinrich Klaasen (wk), 6 David Miller, 7 Marco Jansen, 8 Keshav Maharaj, 9 Kagiso Rabada, 10 Lungi Ngidi, 11 Tabraiz Shamsi