Sixteen years ago, Afghanistan was in Division 5 of the ICC World Cricket League, competing against teams like Japan, Singapore, and Botswana. Fast forward to Wednesday evening at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, Trinidad, and Rashid Khan’s team is set to play in the semifinal of the ICC T20 World Cup, having surpassed powerhouses like Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, and the West Indies. Meanwhile, South Africa enters the match with the weight of World Cup expectations on their shoulders. On June 29th, either Afghanistan or South Africa will become the first men’s World Cup final debutant since New Zealand in 2015, marking a momentous occasion in the tournament’s history.
The Brian Lara Stadium pitches have shown a preference for spin bowling, rewarding bowlers who can slow down the pace. South Africa is expected to field two spinners, with captain Aiden Markram likely to bowl his full quota if the pitch continues to favor spin, as he did in their last match against the West Indies. Afghanistan boasts its own formidable spin arsenal, with Rashid, Noor Ahmad, and Mohammad Nabi collectively conceding under seven runs per over and taking 18 wickets. However, Rashid’s contribution stands out, having claimed 14 of those wickets.
While South Africa has displayed exceptional cricket to reach the semifinals, their batting lineup is renowned for its prowess against spin. Heinrich Klaasen, despite a lackluster tournament so far, boasts a strike rate of almost 160 against spin in all T20s, which jumps to a staggering 213 in the death overs. Similarly, his teammate David Miller, with a career strike rate of 130 against spin, sees his rate surge to 197 in the death overs. The potential clash between Afghanistan’s spin attack and South Africa’s spin-hitting prowess could prove decisive in the match.
Quinton de Kock has identified the PowerPlay as the ideal period for scoring runs and has not held back. However, he will face a stern test from left-arm pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi, who has the ability to swing the ball in both directions. Of course, South Africa boasts high-quality fast bowlers in Anrich Nortje and Kagiso Rabada, while Marco Jansen provides a left-arm angle and Ottneil Baartman’s variations could prove valuable against an Afghanistan batting lineup that can struggle if the ball isn’t coming on nicely.
The dew factor will undoubtedly play a significant role, with the team winning the toss potentially choosing to bowl first. One of these two teams must bow out of the tournament, and the thought of either team ending their World Cup journey with an ellipsis, for those who appreciate the romantic aspect of the game, is disheartening. The match promises an emotional rollercoaster for both teams and their fans.
