Afghanistan vs South Africa 1st ODI: Preview, Pitch Report, and Key Players

Afghanistan faces South Africa in 1st ODI at Sharjah. Can Rashid Khan stop South Africa’s strong lineup? Get match details, pitch report, and key players.

Cricket fans are in for an exciting encounter as Afghanistan takes on South Africa in the first ODI of their series today, September 18, 2024, at the iconic Sharjah Cricket Stadium. With both teams eager to start the series on a high, this match promises plenty of action, especially with the Sharjah pitch known for producing some thrilling high-scoring contests.

Match Details

Date & Time: September 18, 2024, 05:30 PM IST

Venue: Sharjah Cricket Stadium, UAE

Pitch Report: Batters’ Paradise with a Twist

The Sharjah Cricket Stadium is renowned for its slow pitch and short boundaries, which typically favor the batters once they settle in. The slow nature of the wicket provides some assistance to spinners, but overall, it is a high-scoring venue, with teams often aiming for totals around 285+.

Average 1st Innings Score: 285 runs

Highest ODI Total: 364/7 by Pakistan vs. New Zealand (2014)

Highest Successful Run Chase: 285/2 by Australia vs. Pakistan (2019)

Given the pitch conditions and its history, the team winning the toss may prefer to bowl first, with chasing teams often having an advantage at Sharjah.

Head-to-Head: South Africa vs Afghanistan

Although Afghanistan has made significant strides in international cricket, their record against South Africa in ODIs leaves much to be desired. The two sides have met only twice, both encounters taking place in the ICC ODI World Cup, and South Africa emerged victorious in both.

Matches Played: 2

Won by South Africa: 2

Won by Afghanistan: 0

Previous Encounters:

June 15, 2019: South Africa won by 9 wickets

November 10, 2023: South Africa won by 5 wickets

Predicted Lineups

With both teams coming into this series looking to make an impact, here’s a look at their likely playing XIs:

Afghanistan

Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk)

Abdul Malik / Darwish Rasooli

Rahmat Shah

Hashmatullah Shahidi (c)

Azmatullah Omarzai

Mohammad Nabi

Ikram Alikhil (wk)

Rashid Khan

Nangeyalia Kharote

Naveen Zadran / Fareed Ahmed

Fazalhaq Farooqi

South Africa

Temba Bavuma (c)

Reeza Hendricks

Aiden Markram

Tony de Zorzi

Tristan Stubbs

Kyle Verreynne (wk)

Andile Phehlukwayo

Lungi Ngidi

Ottneil Baartman

Nandre Burger

Lizaad Williams

Key Players to Watch

Afghanistan

Rashid Khan: The Afghan talisman and world-class spinner will be key on Sharjah’s slow pitch. His ability to take wickets in the middle overs could be a game-changer.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz: The explosive opener has the ability to give Afghanistan a flying start. His aggression at the top will be crucial against South Africa’s strong bowling attack.

Mohammad Nabi: A veteran all-rounder, Nabi brings balance to the Afghan side with his dependable batting and off-spin.

South Africa

Aiden Markram: A player in form, Markram will look to anchor the South African innings while scoring at a brisk pace. He’s also handy with the ball.

Reeza Hendricks: An aggressive top-order batsman, Hendricks’ ability to take on the Afghan bowlers could set the tone for South Africa’s innings.

Lungi Ngidi: The Proteas pacer will look to exploit any early movement and provide breakthroughs. His death-bowling skills could be critical on Sharjah’s smaller ground.

What to Expect

With both teams looking to make a strong start, fans can expect an intense battle. Afghanistan will rely on their spin attack led by Rashid Khan to trouble the South African middle order, while South Africa will look to capitalize on their experience and batting depth. The pitch at Sharjah favors batters, but the bowlers who adapt quickly could tilt the game in their team’s favor.