Afghanistan is set to host South Africa for a three-match ODI series in Sharjah this September. This series, confirmed via a joint media release from the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) and Cricket South Africa (CSA) on July 31, will be the first bilateral series between the two nations and will serve as a preparation for the 2025 Champions Trophy.
The matches are scheduled for September 18, 20, and 22, all to be played at the Sharjah International Cricket Stadium. This historic series comes after productive negotiations between the ACB and CSA, despite not being part of the initial Future Tours Programme (FTP).
ACB Chairman Mirwais Ashraf expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming series. "These fixtures were not initially part of our FTP. Still, based on our productive negotiations with our counterparts at Cricket South Africa, we concluded that we will host the Proteas for an ODI series in September. They are an excellent team, and we are eagerly looking forward to hosting them and playing them regularly in the future," Ashraf stated.
This will be only the third time Afghanistan and South Africa face off in ODIs, having previously met during the World Cups in 2019 and 2023. Additionally, the two teams recently played against each other in the semifinals of the 2024 T20 World Cup in Trinidad, where South Africa emerged victorious with a nine-wicket win.
CSA Chairman Lawson Naidoo also shared his excitement about the series. "We are excited to embark on this historic ODI series with Afghanistan, who have become a very competitive all-round team as evidenced by their recent performances in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 and most recently at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024. This is a significant milestone in our cricketing relations, and we look forward to a competitive and entertaining series," Naidoo said.
Both teams have shown impressive form in recent international tournaments, making this series a highly anticipated event. It will not only be an opportunity for both teams to fine-tune their squads ahead of the Champions Trophy but also to strengthen their cricketing ties.
Interestingly, Afghanistan and South Africa are also grouped together in the Pakistan Cricket Board's draft schedule for the 2025 Champions Trophy. The tournament is set to take place in Pakistan, with Group A featuring India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and New Zealand, and Group B comprising Australia, England, South Africa, and Afghanistan.
The series in Sharjah is expected to draw significant attention as both teams aim to build momentum and assess their strengths ahead of the Champions Trophy. With Afghanistan's rise in international cricket and South Africa's established reputation, this series promises to be a thrilling encounter.
In conclusion, the upcoming ODI series between Afghanistan and South Africa marks a historic moment in cricketing relations between the two nations. It serves as a vital preparation for the 2025 Champions Trophy and is set to be an exciting and competitive series in the sweltering Sharjah heat.
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