South Africa vs Afghanistan: Weather and Pitch Analysis plus Predicted Lineups - Another High-Scoring Showdown on the Cards?

New Delhi: As the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 continues, all eyes are now on Group B as South Africa prepares to take on Afghanistan on Friday (February 21) at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi. This match is of special significance as it marks Afghanistan's historic debut in the tournament. The South African team, on the other hand, will be looking to bounce back after facing consecutive ODI losses in the recent tri-series against Pakistan and New Zealand.

The South Africa vs Afghanistan game will be the second game that is taking pace in Karachi in the Champions Tropy 2025. The first match proved to be a batting paradise, as New Zealand slammed 320 runs. Karachi has been a high-scoring venue, and hence we might expect another high-scoring encounter on Friday.

The Karachi pitch also showed some assistance for the spinners. Hence the side with better spinners, which is Afghanistan in this case, will get a lot of help on a turning Karachi track.

South Africa Vs Afghanistan Weather Report
According to Accuweather.com, Karachi is expected to remain dry on Friday, ensuring a full 100 overs of action between South Africa and Afghanistan. However, with 88% cloud cover predicted throughout the day, the match is likely to be played under overcast conditions.

Predicted Playing XI:
Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi
South Africa: Temba Bavuma (c), Ryan Rickelton, Matthew Breetzke, Rassie van de Dussen, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Tabraiz Shamsi
Full Squads:
Afghanistan: Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Ikram Alikhil, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharoti, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Farid Malik, Naveed Zadran. Reserves: Darwish Rasooli, Bilal Sami
South Africa: Temba Bavuma (c), 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, Corbin Bosch. Travelling reserve: Kwena Maphaka