The Afghanistan cricket team continues to rise in the international arena, making headlines with their recent historic win against South Africa in the three-match ODI series. This marks the first-ever bilateral series between Afghanistan and South Africa and is a pivotal moment for both teams.
AFG vs SA: A Milestone Series
This series is significant for several reasons. While it’s the third time these two teams have faced each other in ODIs, following encounters during the 2019 and 2023 World Cups, it’s the first bilateral series between them. These matches were added to Cricket South Africa’s calendar, although they were not part of the Future Tours Programme (FTP), reflecting South Africa’s commitment to expanding competitive opportunities for their teams.
SACA’s Stand on Women’s Cricket
The South African Cricketers Association (SACA) has been vocal about the need for greater inclusion of women in cricket. In its statement supporting the promotion of women’s participation in the sport, SACA expressed concern over the lack of a women’s cricket team in Afghanistan. Women’s cricket remains non-existent in the country due to the restrictions placed on women by the Taliban regime.
Despite these concerns, SACA backed Cricket South Africa’s decision to engage with Afghanistan, emphasizing their commitment to improving the state of cricket globally while standing firm on human rights issues.
Afghanistan’s Rise: The Stats Speak for Themselves
The Afghanistan cricket team made history by defeating South Africa 2-0 in the series, clinching their first-ever victory against the South African side in ODIs. Afghanistan’s performance in the first two matches was nothing short of remarkable. They secured a 6-wicket win in the first match and a dominating 177-run victory in the second.
Here are some key moments:
- Match 1: Afghanistan stunned South Africa by chasing down their total and winning with 6 wickets in hand.
- Match 2: Afghanistan’s top order showcased resilience and power, winning the match by a whopping 177 runs.
This victory places Afghanistan as one of the few teams to have beaten every full ICC member nation, except for India.
Afghanistan’s Performance Since the 2023 ODI World Cup
Since the 2023 ODI World Cup, Afghanistan’s cricketing achievements have been exceptional. Their victory over heavyweights like England, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka in the World Cup showcased their growing strength. Despite ending sixth on the points table, Afghanistan continued their success into the 2024 T20 World Cup, where they defeated New Zealand and Australia before falling to South Africa in the semi-finals.
A Glance at Afghanistan’s ICC Rankings
Afghanistan has made significant strides across all formats:
- Test Ranking: 12th
- ODI Ranking: 9th
- T20 Ranking: 10th
Led by captain Hashmatullah Shahidi and star players like Rashid Khan, Afghanistan has become a force to be reckoned with in world cricket.
Third ODI: Can South Africa Salvage Pride?
With Afghanistan already clinching the series, the third and final ODI is a battle for pride for South Africa. Led by Temba Bavuma, the South African team will look to avoid a clean sweep and restore some of their reputation. On the other hand, Afghanistan, with a 2-0 lead, will aim for a historic series clean sweep in Sharjah.
Probable Playing XI:
- Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Abdul Malik, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Azmatullah Umarzai, Ikram Alikhil (wk), Mohammad Nabi, Nangeyalia Kharote, Allah Ghazanfar, Farid Ahmed Malik, Naveed Zadran
Rashid Khan, Riaz Hassan and Fazalhaq Farooqi are replaced by Abdul Malik, Naveed Zadran and Fareed Malik.
Afghanistan are batting first and the final ODI.
Go well @ACBofficials #AFGvSA pic.twitter.com/jHzCnKCYWE— Bashir Gharwal غروال (@bashir_gharwall) September 22, 2024
- South Africa: Temba Bavuma (c), Tony de Zorzi, Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Wiaan Mulder, Andile Phehlukwayo, Bjorn Fortuin, Nkaba Pietersen, Lungi Ngidi
🪙TOSS
🇦🇫Afghanistan have won the toss and will bat first.
Just the one change in the final ODI
Phehlukwayo in for Burger⬅️Here is our starting XI ⤵️#WozaNawe #BePartOfIt #SAvAFG pic.twitter.com/Ttc59Tkwyv
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) September 22, 2024
Conclusion: Afghanistan’s Underdog Journey
Afghanistan’s recent success is more than just about winning matches. It represents the rise of a team that was once considered an underdog in international cricket. Their victories over top-tier teams and consistent performances speak volumes about their growth. While the situation for women’s cricket in Afghanistan remains a point of concern, the men’s team continues to inspire young cricketers globally.
As Afghanistan gears up for future challenges, the world will be watching, waiting for more surprises from this rapidly growing cricketing nation.
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