Afghanistan v South Africa Champions Trophy team news:
Afghanistan have been denied the chance to unleash spin whizzkidd Ghazanfar due to injury. As a result they may bat even deeper with all-rounder Nan Karote potentially batting at No 9. Mind you, having watched the Karachi surface in Pakistan-New Zealand they could pick Noor Ahmad.
Even with one of Noor or Kharote the Afghans could use four spinners who are more than capable led, of course, by Rashid Khan. With the bat they are reliant on the contrasting style of their openers. Rahmanullah Gurbaz will swashbuckle, Ibrahim Zadran will drop anchor.
Probable XI: Gurbaz, Ibrahim, Rahmat, Hashmatullah, Omarzai, Naib, Nabi, Rashid, Kharote, Farooqi, Fareed/Naveed
South Africa have lost key pacemen in Gerald Coetzee and Anrich Nortje for the tournament but they can still put out a potent line-up of pace. Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada are top class and Lungi Ngidi, when not expensive, can be dangerous. They are also well-stocked with the spin of Keshav Maharaj and Tabrais Shamsi.
To find room for Shamsi they are likely to consider leaving out either Tristan Stubbs or Wiaan Mulder. With the bat Ryan Rickleton or Tony de Zorzi will open with Temba Bavuma. They have not been able to find room for Matt Breetzke, who was brilliant in the tri-series in Pakistan.
Probable XI: Bavuma, Rickleton/de Zorzi, Markram, Klaasen, Miller, Stubbs/Mulder, Jansen, Maharaj, Rabada, Shamsi, Ngidi
PITCH REPORT:The Karachi surface didn’t look like a road in Pakistan-New Zealand. There was inconsistent bounce in the second-innings, puffs of dust throughout and plenty of mistimed shots. The biggest clue was that the Kiwis bowled 29 overs of spin.
PREDICTION:South Africa lost 2-1 to Afghanistan in Sharjah in September as they failed their trial by spin. Rashid too seven wickets and had an economy of less than three an over. The Proteas should know what is coming. Whether they can do anything about it is doubtful.The two teams are operating at different temperatures if you will. This South Africa group have barely played together over the last two years and may take time to click. Undercooked might be the word. Afghanistan know each others games inside out. Also, we’re not entirely convinced South Africa are well-led. So often they have a rick in them in pressure games and they looked clueless in the field in the tri-series.
We wouldn’t be fazed if this was a flat surface. Afghanistan tucked into the South Africa bowling twice in Sharjah and still had too much. On a better batting wicket their weaker suit with the bat is levelled. At the least Afghanistan trade as favourites.
