Afghanistan vs South Africa Prediction, ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Who will win today’s match?

Afghanistan vs South Africa Prediction: It’s Match Day 3 of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. After Dubai, the focus shifts to Group B in Karachi once again where Afghanistan take on South Africa on February 21 at the National Stadium. While Afghanistan are the dark horse, South Africa are a team in form. They are the other favourites to lift the title having missed out on T20 World Cup last year.

With Australia and England in the Group, both Afghanistan and South Africa will be eager to kickstart the tournament with a win. South Africa will be favourites to win. But one can never write off Afghanistan, especially in the subcontinent.

Match Overview

• Match: Afghanistan vs South Africa
• Date & Time: February 21, 2025, at 2:30 PM IST
• Venue: National Stadium, Karachi
• Broadcast: Sports18/Star Sports Network, JioHotstar (app & website)

National Stadium Karachi Pitch Report

The National Stadium pitch is expected to be balanced, with an initial advantage for the batters. Pacers could exploit early conditions, but spinners may become influential as the match progresses, particularly in the middle overs. The weather is mostly cloudy with temperatures around 31°C, with low chances of rain promising an uninterrupted match.

AFG vs SA Head-to-Head Records

The two teams have faced each other five times in ODIs, with South Africa winning three times and Afghanistan claiming two victories. Notably, Afghanistan recently achieved a commendable 2-1 series win against South Africa, providing a boost in confidence as they prepare to face them again.

Total Matches	Afghanistan Wins	South Africa Wins	No Result	Tied
5	2	3	0	0

AFG vs SA Predicted Playing XIs

Afghanistan

Under the captaincy of Hashmatullah Shahidi, Afghanistan have played some memorable matches. They will aim to build on their recent success against South Africa in the ODI series. With key players like Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi in the lineup, Afghanistan is poised to challenge their opponents. Afghanistan have a strong batting order complemented by a versatile bowling attack, making them a formidable side in this tournament.

• 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

South Africa enter this match with a wealth of experience and talent, led by captain Temba Bavuma. After a disappointing tri-series performance, the Proteas are eager to showcase their skills and reclaim their status as one of the top teams in world cricket. With star players like Kagiso Rabada and David Miller available, South Africa’s lineup is packed with explosive batting and potent bowling options.

• 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

AFG vs SA Key Players to Watch

For Afghanistan:

• Rahmanullah Gurbaz: He has shown himself to be a key run-scorer and will be vital at the top of the order.
• Rashid Khan: Renowned for his wicket-taking prowess, Rashid can turn the game in Afghanistan’s favour with his leg spin.

For South Africa:

• Temba Bavuma: The captain’s experience and leadership will be crucial, especially in guiding the team during pressure situations.
• Heinrich Klaasen: With his aggressive approach to batting, Klaasen can change the momentum of the match quickly, particularly against spin.

Afghanistan vs South Africa Match Prediction

While South Africa is favoured to win due to their experience and depth of talent, Afghanistan’s recent ODI success against them indicates that they are a team to be reckoned with. South Africa have lost six out of nine ODIs they have played since 2024. However, with so many match winners in the line-up, South Africa cannot be underestimated.

South Africa is predicted to win, potentially by a margin of around 40 runs or more. However, if Afghanistan can reproduce their recent form, they might just pull off a stunning victory, making this fixture a must-watch for all cricket enthusiasts. Expect a match filled with skill, strategy, and palpable excitement as both teams battle for dominance in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.