AFG vs SA: Top 3 Player Battles to watch out for in Champions Trophy 2025

The in-form Afghanistan will take on the ‘down and out’ South Africa(SA) in the upcoming third clash of the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The game will be played at the National Stadium in Karachi tomorrow, February 21, at 2:30 PM (IST). Both teams are being considered the favourites from Group B to reach the semi-finals of the tournament.

So, it will be a crucial game to win for both Afghanistan(AFG) and South Africa; both teams have a good bunch of players who have a knack for changing their game at any moment with their heroics and performances. Having said that, here we’ll have a look at the top 3 player battles to watch out for in Afghanistan vs South Africa, Champions Trophy 2025’s third game.

Also Read: Champions Trophy 2025: SWOT Analysis of South Africa – Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats

Here are the top three player battles: Afghanistan vs South Africa, Champions Trophy 2025

3. Rahmanullah Gurbaz vs Lungi Ngidi 

Star Afghanistan opener and wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz has been in amazing batting form in the last seven ODI appearances. He has scored 353 runs in his last 7 ODI appearances, with a brilliant batting average of 50.43. Gurbaz will be a key factor in Afghanistan’s batting attack against South Africa.

However, Gurbaz might have to face some challenges from the veteran South African pacer Lungi Ngidi, who has been in decent run of form with the ball in the last couple of games. Ngidi has scalped 8 wickets in his last seven ODI appearances, with a good economy rate of 6.35. So, it will be an interesting player battle to watch out for in the Afghanistan vs South Africa game.

2. Heinrich Klaasen vs Rashid Khan 

The explosive South Africa wicketkeeper-batter Heinrich Klassen has been in sensational form with the bat in his last 4 ODI appearances. In these appearances, Klaasen has smashed 351 runs with an outstanding batting average of 87.75 and a decent strike rate of 130. He will play a crucial role in SA’s batting setup during the game against Afghanistan.

Star Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan might come up with some serious questions for Heinrich Klaasen to answer. Rashid’s recent form and Klaasen’s ability to play spinners are the two things that will be tested in this player battle. Rashid has scalped 15 wickets in six games, with an amazing economy rate of 3.5.

1. Tristan Stubbs vs Azmatullah Omarzai 

Young South Africa batter Tristan Stubbs has been one of the ‘top performing’ batters for South Africa amidst the team’s poor run of form in the last couple of ODIs. He has scored 243 runs in his last six matches, with a brilliant batting average of 60.75. He will be a vital cog in the wheel for South Africa in their middle-order batting lineup.

However, Stubbs will have come up with some better preparations, especially for the Afghanistan pacer Azmatullah Omarzai, who has been in amazing bowling form in the last 9 ODIs. Omarzai has scalped 12 wickets in the last nine ODIs, with an outstanding economy rate of 3.93 and a good strike rate of 20.5. 

Also Read: 'I'm still thinking about...' - Veteran Afghanistan all-rounder Mohammad Nabi clears future plans ahead of team's maiden Champions Trophy appearance