Karachi (Web Desk): South Africa won the toss and decided to bat first against Afghanistan in Group B opener of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Champions Trophy at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi on Friday.
South Africa kicked off their campaign in the ODI tournament with a solid pace attack, featuring three frontline pacers and Keshav Maharaj as the sole spinner.
They opted to leave out Heinrich Klaasen as a precautionary measure due to an elbow injury, ensuring he gets full recovery time.
Afghanistan, making their first-ever appearance in the Champions Trophy, took a bold approach by naming just one specialist fast bowler in Fazalhaq Farooqi, supplemented by two seam-bowling all-rounders and a spin-heavy lineup with Rashid Khan at the helm.
Group B is packed with powerhouse teams like Australia and England, who will clash in Lahore on Saturday, while South Africa faces Afghanistan in their opening fixture.
In Group A, it’s the much-anticipated rivalry between India and Pakistan in Dubai on Sunday, alongside New Zealand and Bangladesh.
Teams
South Africa: Ryan Rickelton (wk), Tony de Zorzi, Temba Bavuma (c), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi.
Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Noor Ahmad.