Champions Trophy 2025: Afghanistan vs South Africa Match Prediction – Who Will Win the 3rd Match?

The AFG vs RSA Match Prediction is a key topic as Afghanistan and South Africa clash in the 3rd match of Group B in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 on February 21 at 01:00 PM LOCAL at the National Stadium, Karachi. Both teams aim for a strong start, making this an exciting contest.

The Karachi pitch favors batting, with an average first-innings score of 290.7, and chases teams that have won 60% of the last 10 ODIs. Afghanistan’s strong spin attack and South Africa’s powerful pace lineup created an intriguing battle.

So, who will win the Afghanistan vs South Africa Match Prediction? Can Afghanistan’s spinners dominate, or will South Africa’s experience prevail? Here we analyze the pitch, team stats, and key players to predict the winner!

AFG vs RSA Match Prediction Details

Pitch Report

At the Karachi Stadium, the last match saw batters struggling to find their rhythm early on. As the game progressed, the pitch became more challenging, with pacers experiencing uneven bounce and spinners gaining some turn and grip. Given the conditions from the previous game, captains might opt to bat first, aiming to set a solid total that could be tough to chase in the second innings.

Weather Report

The Champions Trophy 2025 match between Afghanistan and South Africa will be held on February 21 at 2:30 PM in Karachi. The weather is expected to be hot and dry, with temperatures around 30°C. No rain interruptions are anticipated, ensuring a full match.

Toss Prediction & Impact on the Match

Toss Winner & Decision:

Winning the toss in the Champions Trophy 2025 match between Afghanistan and South Africa at the National Stadium, Karachi, could be very important. But unlike before, teams batting first might have a better chance to win.

The pitch in Karachi helps bowlers a little at the start, especially under lights, but batting gets easier later. Still, recent games have shown that teams setting a big total often put pressure on the chasing team. So, the toss winner might choose to bat first and take advantage of this trend.

AFG vs RSA H2H in ODI

Afghanistan Team Analysis & Playing XI

Afghanistan enters the AFG vs RSA Champions Trophy 2025 match with solid recent form, having won eight of their last ten ODIs. Their batting has been impressive, while their bowling attack, especially the spinners, remains a key strength.

Batting Strengths: Afghanistan’s top order, led by Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran, is aggressive, while Hashmatullah Shahidi provides stability. Their middle order has power hitters who can accelerate in the death overs.

Bowling Strengths: Afghanistan’s spin attack, featuring Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, and Mohammad Nabi, is their biggest weapon. They thrive on dry surfaces and can trouble any batting lineup.

Weaknesses: Their lower middle order can be inconsistent under pressure. If South Africa’s pacers strike early, Afghanistan could struggle to recover.

AFG’s Probable Playing XI vs RSA

1️⃣ Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK)
2️⃣ Ibrahim Zadran
3️⃣ Sediqullah Atal
4️⃣ Rahmat Shah
5️⃣ Hashmatullah Shahidi (C)
6️⃣ Azmatullah Omarzai
7️⃣ Gulbadin Naib
8️⃣ Mohammad Nabi
9️⃣ Nangyal Kharoti
🔟 Rashid Khan
1️⃣1️⃣ Noor Ahmad

South Africa Team Analysis & Playing XI

South Africa enters the AFG vs RSA Champions Trophy 2025 match with a strong and balanced squad. They have been in good form recently, with a dominant pace attack and a batting lineup capable of adapting to different conditions. However, their struggles against quality spin remain a concern, especially on slower pitches.

Batting Strengths: Quinton de Kock and Reeza Hendricks provide explosive starts, while Aiden Markram and Rassie van der Dussen offer stability in the middle order. Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller add firepower in the finishing overs.

Bowling Strengths: South Africa’s pace attack, featuring Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, and Gerald Coetzee, is one of the best in the tournament. Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi bring variety to the spin department and can be crucial in middle overs.

Weaknesses: South Africa has historically struggled against high-quality spin, which could be a challenge against Afghanistan’s strong spin attack. Their lower middle order can be inconsistent under pressure, especially if early wickets fall.

RSA’s Probable Playing XI vs India

1️⃣ Temba Bavuma (C)
2️⃣ Ryan Rickelton
3️⃣ Rassie van der Dussen
4️⃣ Aiden Markram
5️⃣ David Miller
6️⃣ Heinrich Klaasen (WK)
7️⃣ Marco Jansen
8️⃣ Wiaan Mulder
9️⃣ Keshav Maharaj
🔟 Kagiso Rabada
1️⃣1️⃣ Tabraiz Shamsi

Afghanistan’s Possible Key Players

Rahmanullah Gurbaz – A dynamic opener in great touch, scoring 353 runs in 7 matches at an average of 50.43 and a strike rate of 89.36. His aggressive approach can give Afghanistan a strong start.

Sediqullah Atal – A consistent top-order batter with 230 runs in 6 matches, averaging 46 with a strike rate of 83.03. He can stabilize the innings and play long knocks.

Rashid Khan – Afghanistan’s key bowler, taking 15 wickets in 6 matches with a brilliant economy of 3.5 and a strike rate of 21.4. His ability to control the middle overs will be crucial.

Azmatullah Omarzai – A reliable all-rounder, picking up 12 wickets in 9 matches with an economy rate of 3.93. His seam bowling can be an asset, especially in pressure situations.

South Africa’s Possible Key Players

Heinrich Klaasen – A destructive middle-order batter, scoring 351 runs in 4 matches at an average of 87.75 and a strike rate of 130. His ability to finish innings strongly makes him a key player.

Tristan Stubbs – A promising young batter with 243 runs in 6 matches, averaging 60.75 with a strike rate of 92.74. He adds depth to South Africa’s lineup.

Lungi Ngidi – A pace spearhead with 8 wickets in 7 matches, maintaining an economy rate of 6.35. His ability to take early wickets can put Afghanistan under pressure.

Marco Jansen – A versatile pacer with 6 wickets in 3 matches at an economy rate of 6.11. His ability to contribute with both bat and ball makes him a key asset for South Africa.

AFG vs RSA Today’s Match Prediction

If Afghanistan bats first in this Champions Trophy 2025 match, they have a 60% chance of winning, the same as South Africa. The pitch is expected to get tougher as the game progresses, making it more challenging for the chasing team. Afghanistan’s spinners, led by Rashid Khan, could trouble South Africa, but their batting must perform well to set a challenging total.

Winner Prediction: Team Bat First Has a 60% chance of winning.

Disclaimer: This match prediction is based on analyzing team performance, pitch conditions, and recent trends. Cricket is unpredictable, and actual results may vary. We do not guarantee accuracy and advise readers to use their judgment before making decisions.