Afghanistan and South Africa to Play Historic ODI Series in UAE
Cricket South Africa (CSA) and the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) have announced their first-ever bilateral ODI series. The matches will be held from September 18-22 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Series Details
This ODI series will be the first time Afghanistan and South Africa meet outside of ICC tournaments. All three games will be hosted by ACB at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
Previous Encounters
The two teams have met twice in the ODI format before, during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cups in 2019 and 2023, with South Africa winning both times. They have also faced each other three times in T20Is during the Men’s T20 World Cups in 2010, 2016, and 2024, with South Africa emerging victorious in all matches. Their last encounter was in the semi-final of the Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, where South Africa won decisively.
Statements from Officials
CSA Chairman Lawson Naidoo called the tour a significant milestone in South Africa and Afghanistan’s cricketing relations. He said, “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.”
ACB Chairman Mirwais Ashraf commented, “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.”
ODI Series Schedule
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, September 18 | Afghanistan vs South Africa, 1st ODI | Sharjah Cricket Stadium, UAE |
| Friday, September 20 | Afghanistan vs South Africa, 2nd ODI | Sharjah Cricket Stadium, UAE |
| Sunday, September 22 | Afghanistan vs South Africa, 3rd ODI | Sharjah Cricket Stadium, UAE |
Doubts Revealed
Afghanistan -: Afghanistan is a country in South Asia. It is known for its rich history and culture.
South Africa -: South Africa is a country located at the southern tip of Africa. It is famous for its diverse cultures and beautiful landscapes.
ODI -: ODI stands for One Day International. It is a format of cricket where each team plays 50 overs.
UAE -: UAE stands for the United Arab Emirates. It is a country in the Middle East known for its modern cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Sharjah Cricket Stadium -: Sharjah Cricket Stadium is a famous cricket ground in Sharjah, one of the cities in the UAE. Many important cricket matches are played here.
ICC -: ICC stands for International Cricket Council. It is the global governing body for cricket.
T20 World Cups -: T20 World Cups are international cricket tournaments where teams play T20 matches, which are shorter games with 20 overs per team.
CSA Chairman Lawson Naidoo -: Lawson Naidoo is the Chairman of Cricket South Africa, the organization that manages cricket in South Africa.
ACB Chairman Mirwais Ashraf -: Mirwais Ashraf is the Chairman of the Afghanistan Cricket Board, the organization that manages cricket in Afghanistan.