🏏ICC T20I WC 2024: Semi Final 1 - M53: SA vs AFG @ 6:00 AM IST🏏 - Page 3

AFG vs SA team news

Afghanistan

Afghanistan seem to have settled on their preferred XI in the last two matches. Given the results in those games, they are unlikely to make any changes, even based on conditions. They may be tempted to bring in an extra batter but most likely do not want to lose the flexibility of having eight (!) solid bowling options. There was concern over Rahmanullah Gurbaz after injured his knee and had to be replaced while keeping wickets against Bangladesh, but given it was an impact injury he should recover in time. Something says Gulbadin Naib has recovered from his hamstring injury quite well.

South Africa

South Africa played both their spinners against West Indies last time out, and should do the same in Trinidad. Marco Jansen was injured in a collision while fielding and did not finish bowling his quota of overs. He did come out to bat (and hit the winning runs) though, so should be fit for the semi-final as well. Opener Reeza Hendricks' form has been a concern, and he could be replaced by Ryan Rickleton but whether the Proteas will think it wise to throw the latter in for the first time in a knockout fixture is yet to be seen. 

Pitch report and ground conditions

The pitch in Trinidad has played host to several one-sided matches in this World Cup, as PNG and Uganda were steamrolled by Afghanistan and New Zealand respectively. The West Indies-New Zealand match saw a Sherfane Rutherford special to take the hosts to 149 and a 13-run win but it was undoubtedly a game for the bowlers.

The patchiness of the surface here has contributed to difficult batting conditions, with unpredictability in bounce and spin, especially. Depending on which strip is used for this match, the square boundaries could be very close in dimension, or up to 7m apart in size. The straight hit is roughly 75m and the wind, although not very strong, blows across the ground towards the shorter side.   

OMG 

I thought this was 2nd semi and ind will play first. 

Thanks for the tag. 

Thanks for the tag

All The Best to both teams

South Africa please iss baar jeet jaana

Ek aur semi final heartbreak mat hone dena

And remove chokers tag

Looks like Afghanistan National Cricket Team (Mens) will win

Now they have confidence of beating big teams

Their bowling is best

Best openers, middle order is not much reliable though

#No reverse jinxing, just an analysis

SA is also good, but Reeza Henderiks, Aiden Markaram not performing much

Klassen, Miller, Stubbs are good

Their bowling is also good

Let's see

Thanks for the 

All the best to both teams 

Thanks for the tag 

Best of Luck to both the teams 

I will be supporting SA because I feel bad for them as they mostly lose Semi finals, they have not won ODI WC, T20 WC yet also they are called chokers

And because of following players

1) David Miller (he is cute)

2) Klassen, Markaram, Jansen (SRH)

3) Stubbs (DC)

Originally posted by: Bacillusbadius

Looks like Afghanistan National Cricket Team (Mens) will win

Now they have confidence of beating big teams

Their bowling is best

Best openers, middle order is not much reliable though

#No reverse jinxing, just an analysis

SA is also good, but Reeza Henderiks, Aiden Markaram not performing much

Klassen, Miller, Stubbs are good

Their bowling is also good

Let's see

All three of Afg's major wins at this tournament (NZ, Aus, BD) have come while batting first.

Two big losses while chasing v Ind and WI.

More than half (probably even more actually) of their runs have been scored by Gurbaz and Zadran.

SA bat first; put up a half decent score and get Gurbaz out early- they should be able to win IMO.