AFG vs SA Champions Trophy 2025: Afghanistan vs South Africa Toss & Playing 11 - Proteas Leave Out Klaasen in Karachi

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AFG vs SA: South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma won the toss and opted to bat first against Afghanistan in match 3 of the Champions Trophy 2025, which is taking place at the National Stadium in Karachi on Friday (February 21).

The big news coming out of the South Africa team is that the Proteas have not included Heinrich Klaasen, who is nursing an elbow injury, in the playing 11 for their Champions Trophy opener with Ryan Rickelton being picked as the wicketkeeper-batter.

South Africa has also opted for one spinner and three pacers in the line up with Keshav Maharaj getting a look in over Tabraiz Shamsi, while Afghanistan has gone spin-heavy with Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad and Mohammad Nabi set for the role of spinners.

The Afghans have also included young batter Sediqullah Atal in their team despite the return of fit-again opener Ibrahim Zadran, who will open the batting again with Rahmanullah Gurbaz. Skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi and Rahmat Shah will make up the top five.

For Proteas, Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen return to the line up to share the pace attack with Lungi Ngidi and Wiaan Mulder. Fazalhaq Farooqi will be the lone specialist pacer in the Afghanistan line up. Here is what the captains said and the playing 11 news:

After winning the toss and opting to bat first, South Africa captain Bavuma said, "Looks a bit different that what we have been experiencing here, not sure how will it react. Will try to post a competitive total on the board. I have a lot of confidence in our bowling attack, today we have gone for a lone spinner and the rest are seamers."

Meanwhile, Afghanistan skipper Shahidi, who also would have preferred to bat first, said, "The toss is not in our hands and we have to play good cricket. (On what it will take to beat South Africa) We played some quality cricket against them in Sharjah and we have quality spinners.

"Hopefully, we do well and can beat them. I will be more happy if we start well and take some wickets in the powerplay and give some momentum to our bowlers in the middle overs."

Afghanistan vs South Africa Playing 11 for Champions Trophy 2025 Match 3

South Africa XI: Ryan Rickelton (wicketkeeper), Tony de Zorzi, Temba Bavuma (captain), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi.

Afghanistan XI: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wicketkeeper), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Noor Ahmad.