The first Group B encounter of the Champions Trophy 2025, featuring Afghanistan and South Africa in Karachi this Friday, is shaping up to be a thrilling showdown. Despite the presence of cricketing giants Australia and England in the group, this contest has the potential to be a defining match in this phase of the tournament.

A Battle of Form and Momentum

Australia enter the competition on the back of four consecutive ODI defeats, while England have struggled in white-ball cricket, winning just one of their last eight matches in India. South Africa, too, have had a rough patch, losing their previous six ODIs. However, their squad was missing several key players, who are now back and ready to make an impact.

Afghanistan, on the other hand, have been in formidable form, securing victory in eight of their last ten completed ODIs, including a 2-1 series win over South Africa in Sharjah last September. With their confidence soaring, Afghanistan might go into this match as slight favorites, though the return of South Africa’s first-choice players could level the playing field.

A Special Connection with Pakistan

South African cricket enjoys a special bond with Pakistani fans, possibly due to the shared legacy of producing world-class fast bowlers. While Bavuma’s team will receive some local support, the crowd is expected to be heavily tilted in favor of Afghanistan.

Pakistan is home to around 3.1 million Afghan refugees, with approximately 360,000 residing in Karachi. Given that the stadium has a capacity of just 30,000, expect a packed house cheering for Afghanistan.

Additionally, many Afghan cricketers developed their skills in Pakistan while living as refugees during the 1990s when the Taliban had banned cricket in Afghanistan. Due to ongoing political instability, Afghanistan is yet to host an international match on home soil, having played 202 of their 327 games at neutral venues and the remaining 125 as away fixtures.

The Boycott Controversy

Since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, Afghanistan has faced increasing calls for boycotts due to restrictions imposed on women’s rights. Australia and England have suspended bilateral series against them, though no team has withdrawn from tournament fixtures. Addressing this issue, Afghanistan’s captain Hashmatullah Shahidi said, “As sportsmen, our job is to play cricket. We focus on what happens on the field.”

Head-to-Head at ICC Events

The last time these teams met at an ICC tournament was in the 2024 T20 World Cup semifinals, where South Africa bowled Afghanistan out for a mere 56 runs on a tricky Tarouba pitch and secured a dominant nine-wicket victory. However, the Karachi pitch will offer much fairer conditions, promising a competitive battle.

Match Details

• Date & Time: February 21, 14:00 Local, 11:00 SAT, 14:30 IST
• Venue: National Stadium, Karachi
• Weather & Pitch: A hot and dry day is expected, with the pitch likely to be batting-friendly, potentially producing a high-scoring game with around 600 runs on offer.

Team News & Probable XIs

Afghanistan

Ibrahim Zadran returns to the squad after recovering from an ankle injury.

Probable XI: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (capt), Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Nangyal Kharoti, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad

South Africa

Tony de Zorzi’s place in the XI is uncertain despite his recent fifty against Pakistan Shaheens.

Probable XI: Temba Bavuma (capt), Ryan Rickelton, Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Marco Jansen, Wiaan Mulder, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi

Key Stats

• South Africa have lost three out of four ODIs played at Karachi’s National Stadium.
• Afghanistan have played only two ODIs in Pakistan, both in Lahore during the 2023 Asia Cup, where they lost to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
• Karachi’s ODI results show an even split—teams batting first have won 27 matches, while teams chasing have won 28.

What They Said

Hashmatullah Shahidi: “A lot of Pashtuns follow our team and live in Pakistan. Hopefully, their support will be with us. Afghans everywhere want us to win, and we aim to make them proud.”

Temba Bavuma: “Afghanistan are a tough team, especially in these conditions. Their spinners and swing bowlers will pose a serious challenge.”

Final Thoughts

With both teams eager to start their campaign on a winning note, expect a hard-fought contest. While South Africa’s experience could give them the edge, Afghanistan’s recent form and crowd support make this a battle worth watching.

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