The opening match in Group B of the ICC Champions Trophy sees South Africa in action when they taken on Afghanistan in Karachi on Friday
This is a Group B match with Australia and England, who meet in Lahore on Saturday, the other sides making up this quartet.
Afghanistan
Afghanistan played a couple of warm up matches, losing to a Pakistan “A” side in Lahore by 144runs and then going down to New Zealand in Karachi by 2 wickets despite posting 305/9.
In December 2024 they won both completed matches in Zimbabwe by margins of 232 runs and 8 wickets. In November they won 2-1 in Bangladesh and a 3 match series ahainst South Africa in the UAE in September also went their way by a 2-1 scoreline.
In the outright betting (prices change each day) Afghanistan are currently20/1 to win the tournament and 3.35/1 to reach the semi finals.
Squad: Hashmatullah Shahidi (C), Rahmat Shah (VC), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Ikram Alikhil (WK), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Nangeyalia Kharote, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Naveed Zadran and Farid Ahmad Malik
South Africa
The Proteas sent a squad missing many of those who will be on duty on Friday to Pakistan earlier this month and they lost both their matches in a tri series with Pakistan and New Zealand by 6 wickets. They did beat Pakistan “A” by 3 wickets in a warm up on Monday, chasing down 323 for victory.
In December 2024 the Proteas lost all 3 matches at home to Pakistan by margins of 3 wickets, 81 runs and 36 runs (DLS).
In the outright betting South Africa are currently 6.55/1 to win the tournament nad 9/10 to reach the semi finals
Squad: Temba Bavuma (c), Corbin Bosch, Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs, Rassie van der Dussen
Head to Head
Overall the teams have met 5 times in this format with Afghanistan winning 2 to South Africa's 3.
The most series meeting was staged in Sharjah, Afghanistan won the first 2 matches by margins of 6 wickets and then 177 runs and the Proteas gained a
consolation in the final match with a 7 wicket win.
The Betting
At the time of writing Afghanistan are 1.95/1 to win this match and South Africa can be backed at 4/10 with Betway
Prices subject to change
The Verdict
Afghanistan have the look of upset material to me and the Proteas, missing some front line pace bowlers, will have to be on their game with Australia and then England to come.
Player Performance (1 point per, 20 per wicket, 10 per catch and 25 per stumping) is once again my focus and Marco Jansen, who was in great form in the recent SA20 is taken to beat his quote
Bet: Player Performance, Marco Jansen, over 44.5 at 17/20 with Betway
