South Africa vs Afghanistan - 10 things to know with detail
- 1. Cricket history: South Africa has a long-standing cricket history, having been one of the founding members of the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 1909. Afghanistan, on the other hand, is a relatively new cricketing nation, having gained ICC full member status in 2017.
- 2. Head-to-head record: South Africa and Afghanistan have only played each other twice in One Day Internationals (ODIs), with South Africa winning both matches.
- 3. ICC rankings: As of September 2021, South Africa is ranked 3rd in the ICC ODI rankings, while Afghanistan is ranked 9th.
- 4. Key players: South Africa boasts a number of world-class players in their squad, including Quinton de Kock, Kagiso Rabada, and Faf du Plessis. Afghanistan's key players include Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, and Mujeeb Ur Rahman.
- 5. Playing styles: South Africa is known for its aggressive and dynamic brand of cricket, with a strong focus on pace bowling and explosive batting. Afghanistan, on the other hand, is known for its spin-heavy attack, with world-class spinners leading the charge.
- 6. Recent form: South Africa has been in good form in ODIs, with a series win against Sri Lanka in September 2021. Afghanistan has also been performing well, with a series win against Ireland in January 2021.
- 7. World Cup performances: South Africa has a strong World Cup record, having reached the semi-finals four times. Afghanistan, on the other hand, made their World Cup debut in 2015 and have since played in two tournaments.
- 8. Captains: South Africa is captained by Temba Bavuma, while Afghanistan is led by Asghar Afghan.
- 9. Home advantage: The match between South Africa and Afghanistan is likely to be played on neutral ground, with both teams having a strong following in the United Arab Emirates, where the match is likely to take place.
- 10. Exciting contest: The match between South Africa and Afghanistan promises to be an exciting contest, with both teams possessing talent and skill in all departments of the game. Fans can expect a competitive and thrilling match between these two cricketing nations.