Rashid Khan won the toss on a clear Wednesday morning in Ahmedabad and, without much hesitation, told Aiden Markram that Afghanistan would bowl first. The surface is new, the air still, and with a 09:30 start the Afghan captain plainly prefers to know the target rather than defend one. “It’s simple – we have to win,” he had said on the eve of the match, a reminder of how little wriggle-room his side have after losing their opener to New Zealand.
This fixture has a knock-out feel even though we are still in the group stage. Victory for South Africa would leave Afghanistan needing a mathematical miracle and, in the same breath, shove both the Proteas and New Zealand close to the Super Eights. Markram’s men also have the comfort of history: they lead the head-to-head 3-0, including that one-sided semi-final in Trinidad two years ago.
Both teams reacted to the early-start conditions by beefing up the slow-bowling department. Afghanistan have brought in left-arm wrist-spinner Noor Ahmad for seamer Ziaur Rahman. South Africa, keen to mirror that variety, preferred left-arm spinner George Linde to Corbin Bosch. It means each side can call on three frontline spinners if the pitch grips as much as many local curators expect.
A sub-plot, and a sizeable one, concerns Rashid himself. He begins the day on 697 T20 wickets; three more will make him the first bowler to reach 700 in the format. “Milestones come if you keep things simple,” he noted last week, though even he conceded this one “would be special”.
Teams
Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan (c), Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi.
South Africa: Aiden Markram (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, George Linde, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi.
In short, Afghanistan bowl first, South Africa bat, and the spin duel may decide who stays alive in this World Cup’s toughest group.
