Champions Trophy: SA seeks redemption against Afghanistan

The Champions Trophy couldn’t have started off with a bigger bang.

Four centuries in two games, some great catches including an absolute screamer from Glenn Phillips, and Indian captain Rohit Sharma dropping a sitter to deny Axar Patel a hat-trick on Thursday. So two games, lots of action, some absolute gun moments, and so much more to look forward to in the next few weeks.

The Proteas face Afghanistan on Friday in the third game of the Champions Trophy in what promises to be a crucial group-stage encounter, with Australia and England playing the following day. This match holds significant importance for the Proteas, considering their recent ODI performances and past encounters with Afghanistan, and that every game in this shortened version of the tournament should be treated as a knockout game. 

Leading up to the tournament, South Africa's ODI form has been inconsistent, to say the least. In the three-match series against Afghanistan in Sharjah in September 2024, the Proteas suffered a 2-1 series defeat. Afghanistan secured convincing victories in the first two matches, winning by six wickets and a massive 177 runs, respectively. South Africa managed a consolation win in the final match, but the series loss highlighted vulnerabilities, particularly against spin bowling.

Afghanistan have a few key players that could pose some serious threats with bat and ball. On the batting front, Afghanistan's opening batsman, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, has been in exceptional form. In the series against the Proteas in September, he scored a record-setting century, amassing 105 runs off 110 balls in the second ODI. His aggressive style and ability to anchor the innings make him a significant threat to South Africa's bowling attack.

But it is arguably the Afghanistan spin unit that presents the biggest challenge to the Proteas batting unit. Mohammad Nabi and Noor Ahmad are both exciting bowlers, but it is the captain and much-celebrated leg-spinner Rashid Khan who will continue to be Afghanistan's premier bowling weapon. On his 26th birthday during the second ODI against South Africa, he delivered a match-winning performance, taking 5 wickets for just 19 runs. His expertise and experience in subcontinental conditions pose a considerable challenge to the Proteas' batting lineup.

Rashid Khan's dominance, coupled with support from other spinners, exposed the Proteas' susceptibility to spin in the previous series, leading to collapses in the middle order. Will these weaknesses have been worked on ahead of Friday’s crucial encounter?

One player that the Proteas would hope continues with his exceptional form of the last two years is Heinrich Klaasen. Since the start of 2023, Klaasen has hit three centuries and six half-centuries, while maintaining an unbelievable strike rate of 136.68, an incredible feat for a middle-order batter who often faces high-pressure situations. 

His ability to dominate both pace and spin has been evident in his three centuries, most notably his 174 off 83 balls against Australia in Centurion in 2023, where he single-handedly dismantled one of the best bowling attacks in the world. Klaasen’s ability to take down spin will be crucial against Afghanistan, a team that thrives on slow bowling. 

On the bowling front, a lot will once again be resting on Kagiso Rabada’s shoulder as he remains South Africa’s most reliable and dangerous fast bowler, consistently delivering in high-pressure situations. His ability to generate pace and movement with the new ball makes him a lethal weapon in the powerplay, while his control in the death overs has been a key asset for the Proteas. 

Rabada’s performances in ICC tournaments have often been defining moments for South Africa, and in a Champions Trophy where conditions might favour pacers early on, he will be a crucial factor. Against Afghanistan, his challenge will be containing an aggressive top order that includes Rahmanullah Gurbaz and ensuring South Africa can apply early pressure. His role becomes even more critical given the Proteas’ inconsistent bowling attack, which has struggled for support beyond Rabada and Marco Jansen.