Fri Feb 21 10:40:00 UTC 2025: ## South Africa Wins Toss, Bats First Against Afghanistan in Champions Trophy Opener

**Karachi, Pakistan –** South Africa won the toss and elected to bat first against Afghanistan in their opening match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at the National Stadium in Karachi today. The match, the third overall and the first of Group B, marks Afghanistan’s debut in the tournament.

The South African team suffered a significant blow with the absence of explosive batsman Heinrich Klaasen and Tristan Stubbs from their playing eleven. This leaves them with only one spinner in their line-up, a fact that could prove significant given the spin-friendly nature of the pitch, as demonstrated in a recent Pakistan vs. New Zealand series played at the same venue.

Afghanistan, meanwhile, fields a completely fresh Champions Trophy team, making their tournament debut with all eleven players experiencing their first taste of the competition. While Afghanistan has historically held its own against South Africa in ODIs – winning two of their five previous encounters – the absence of Klaasen and the South African team’s batting strength make today’s match a closely contested affair.

**Playing Elevens:**

**Afghanistan:** Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sadiqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Noor Ahmad.

**South Africa:** Temba Bavuma (c), Ryan Rickelton (wk), Tony de Zorzi, Rassi van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi.

The match began at 2:30 PM local time (IST) following a 2:00 PM toss. The outcome of this crucial Group B encounter will be closely watched.

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