AFG vs SA: Big blow for South Africa ahead of ODI series opener against Afghanistan
South Africa will be without their captain, Temba Bavuma, for the first ODI against Afghanistan in Sharjah on Wednesday. Bavuma is sick, so Aiden Markram will take over as captain for this game.
This ODI series is the first time South Africa and Afghanistan are facing each other outside of ICC tournaments. The last time they played was in the semi-finals of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.
Afghanistan vs South Africa ODI Series Schedule:
- 1st ODI – September 18
- 2nd ODI – September 20
- 3rd ODI – September 22
Afghanistan Squad: Abdul Malik, Darwish Rasooli, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Rahmat Shah, Riaz Hassan, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Alikhil, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Allah Ghazanfar, Bilal Sami, Fareed Ahmed, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Nangeyalia Kharote, Naveed Zadran, and Rashid Khan.
South Africa Squad: Jason Smith, Reeza Hendricks, Temba Bavuma (c), Tony de Zorzi, Aiden Markram, Andile Phehlukwayo, Andile Simelane, Wiaan Mulder, Kyle Verreynne, Tristan Stubbs, Bjorn Fortuin, Lizaad Williams, Lungi Ngidi, Nandre Burger, Nqaba Peter, and Ottniel Baartman.
After this three-match series against Afghanistan, South Africa will play a white-ball series against Ireland. Some senior players, like Aiden Markram, won’t be available for that series. Rassie van der Dussen will join the squad to replace Markram.