It is noteworthy that a three-match ODI series between the two countries will begin on Wednesday, September 18, at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. The legendary location will write another chapter in history when it hosts its 250th game. Sharjah will thus become the first location in history to stage 250 limited-overs matches worldwide. Meanwhile, there have been five times that South Africa and Afghanistan have faced off. But the Asian team hasn’t triumphed over Proteas in a game yet.
The subcontinent has seen a surge in cricket activity recently, with multiple Asian nations participating in Test and ODI matches. Afghanistan, who were upset before that they were unable to test themselves against New Zealand in the red-ball style in Greater Noida because of nonstop rain, will now face South Africa at a renowned location.
Hashmatullah Shahidi, the captain of Afghanistan, will try to end the team’s losing trend against the African team by playing some excellent cricket. Additionally, he said that the team would want to put as much pressure on the opposition as possible because the game may change course at any time. Furthermore, he said that although South Africa is one of the hardest teams to play against, Afghanistan will have an advantage over the African team due to its familiarity with the Sharjah environment, which is another of its home bases. They have, however, recently moved their base to Noida.
They are undoubtedly among the best teams in the world, in my opinion. However, we are positive that we can play solid cricket and exert pressure on them. In cricket, anything can happen. We are playing a bilateral series with such large squads for the first time. Naturally, we are both happy and assured,” Shahidi was stated by Gulftoday.ae.
We are playing in environments that we are accustomed to. We in the UAE have played cricket more than anyone else. Thus, we are fully aware of the pitches and additional elements. We’ll attempt to rely on our bowling spin strength. We intend to give South Africa a difficult time since we have some elite spinners on the squad,” he added.
When it comes to Sharjah’s amazing history, it all started in 1981 with Adbul Rahman Bukhatir’s Cricketer’s Benefit Fund Series (CBFS)
It’s interesting to note that top player Rashid Khan, one of Afghanistan’s most seasoned combatants, will return to action after a protracted battle with a back injury. He’ll be hoping to get off to a fast start versus South Africa. Willy legs pinner Mujeeb-ur-Rehman and Mohammad Nabi will share the spin load, respectively. As a result, they rank among Asia’s best spin lineups.
Most ODIs hosted by a ground
249 – Sharjah Cricket Stadium, UAE
182 – Harare Sports Club, Zimbabwe
161 – Sydney Cricket Ground, Australia
151 – R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, Sri Lanka
151 – Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia pic.twitter.com/OG1LgoaH22— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) September 17, 2024
They proved their mettle in the 50-over World Cup, so they are no longer the underdogs: Aiden Markram
However, Aiden Markram, the temporary captain of South Africa, was not taking the Afghans lightly. Afghanistan, in his opinion, is no longer the world’s underdog. Therefore, heading into the first ODI, his team won’t be complacent against them. He also praised Afghanistan for their amazing performance in the 2023 ODI World Cup, when they advanced to the semi-finals. Additionally, Temba Bavuma, South Africa’s normal captain, will not be available because of an injury that kept him out of the first ODI.
They no longer play the underdog. They boast a number of elite players, who proved their mettle in the 50-over World Cup. Their progress to the semi-finals of the main event demonstrates their ODI credentials. Regarding Afghanistan’s ascent, Markram declared, “We will not allow the complacency to creep in.”
“Under these circumstances, Afghanistan can present a significant risk to us as a client. Their specialty is spin bowling, and spinners typically benefit from the pitches in this area. However, we are equipped to handle them,” he said.
Also Read: AFG vs SA 2024: Temba Bavuma, the captain of the Proteas, will not play in the first ODI
Notably, the legendary person’s objective was to pay tribute to the enormous achievements made by Indian and Pakistani cricket superstars, both past and present.
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