Wed Sep 18 12:52:30 UTC 2024: ## South Africa and Afghanistan Set to Clash in Sharjah ODI Series Opener

**Sharjah, UAE:** The first ODI match of the three-match series between Afghanistan and South Africa will be played at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on September 18th, 2024, at 5:30 PM IST.

The Sharjah pitch is known for being balanced, offering assistance to both batsmen and bowlers. The average first innings score at the venue in the last 20 matches is 232 runs. The team winning the toss might decide to bat or bowl depending on the ground conditions on the day.

Both teams have had mixed form recently, with each winning two out of their last five matches. The last time these two sides met was in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, where Azmatullah Omarzai led Afghanistan’s fantasy points with 118, while Gerald Coetzee topped the leaderboard for South Africa with 114.

South Africa has a winning record against Afghanistan in their two previous encounters. While South Africa’s bowlers have consistently earned the most fantasy points for their team, Afghanistan’s all-rounders have been crucial to their success.

**Squads:**

**South Africa:** Reeza Hendricks, Lizaad Williams, Jason Smith, Aiden Markram, Andile Phehlukwayo, Lungi Ngidi, Bjorn Fortuin, Ottneil Baartman, Kyle Verreynne, Tony de Zorzi, Wiaan Mulder, Nandre Burger, Tristan Stubbs, Andile Simelane and Nqabayomzi Peter

**Afghanistan:** Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Rahmat Shah, Fareed Ahmad, Rashid Khan, Ikram Alikhil, Azmatullah Omarzai, Darwish Rasooli, Nangeyalia Kharote, Abdul Malik, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Riaz Hassan, Bilal Sami, Naveed Zadran and AM Ghazanfar

**Key Players:**

**Wicket-Keepers:** Wiaan Mulder, Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai and Rashid Khan
**All-Rounder:** Rahmanullah Gurbaz
**Bowlers:** Nangeyalia Kharote, AM Ghazanfar, Nandre Burger, Fazalhaq Farooqi and Lungi Ngidi

The match promises to be a thrilling contest, with both teams eager to start the series on a winning note.

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