AFG vs SA Top 3 Bowlers to watch out for in Afghanistan vs South Africa Champions Trophy Match 3

Champions Trophy 2025 action will see the first game in Group B take place between Afghanistan and South Africa. The two sides meet each other for the sixth time in ODI cricket at the National Stadium in Karachi. Australia and England will engage in their opening match on Saturday as the tournament will complete its first phase. 

This is the first ever Champions Trophy appearance for Afghanistan who have been impressing everyone with their growth. In the previous five games between these two sides, the Afghans have won twice. Their biggest cause of concern is injury to Allah Ghazanfar who is set to miss the tournament. 

South Africa, on the other hand, were the winners of the inaugural Champions Trophy in 1998. Hansie Cronje and his side beat West Indies in the finals to claim what was known as the ICC Knock-out trophy. It has been nearly 27 years since the Proteas won an ICC title and a win over Afghanistan will give Temba Bavuma’s team a great start to the campaign. 

Here are the top three bowlers to watch out for in Afghanistan vs South Africa Champions Trophy match 

3- Fazalhaq Farooqi 

Afghanistan’s left-arm seamer Fazalhaq Farooqi was one of the top three bowlers in the 2024 T20 World Cup. The 24-year-old has deceptive pace with the ball and skids on the batters much quicker than expected. Farooqi is not only adept at bringing the ball into the batters but also taking it away from the left-handed batters. The likes of Bavuma and De Zorzi will be wary of the skills Farooqi possesses with the ball. So far the Afghan has picked 50 wickets from 39 ODI matches for his national side. 

2- Rashid Khan  

Considered one of the best spinners in the world, Rashid Khan has left many batters bamboozled with his craft. The 26-year-old has picked 198 ODI wickets from 111 matches with five fifers and a best of 7/18. One of those five was against South Africa late last year, where Rashid picked 5/19 in Sharjah. Some of the South African bowlers tend to struggle against spin and the surfaces in Karachi will aid Rashid Khan on Friday. 

1- Kagiso Rabada 

South Africa’s hopes of picking wickets with the new ball will rest on Kagiso Rabada. The right-arm pacer has been amongst the wickets recently and can generate good pace and bounce. If there is one thing that Afghanistan isn’t good at, it is playing the short ball. Rabada can capitalise on this and make the batters hope with his pace and hostility. The 29-year-old also has a terrific yorker and can bowl the slower ball well.