<p>The National Stadium in Karachi is set to host the battle between two of the most exciting teams in international cricket. On one hand, are the unpredictable underdogs Afghanistan and on the other are the mighty South Africans. It is set to be a great battle between these two teams which will feature some exciting players in the mix. While the Afghans would want to take revenge for the 2024 T20 World Cup semi-final, South Africa will also want to keep their hopes alive for an ICC trophy which they have failed to win since 1998.</p>
<p>There are some great battles to look forward to in this upcoming event which will also be the first match of Group B. Though Afghanistan are making their debut in the Champions Trophy they will be playing in favorable conditions and recently had a great run in their last ODI series. South Africa might have faced problems but still have some players who can be a threat to the Afghans in the match.</p>
<h3>Here are the top 3 player battles to watch out for from the Afghanistan vs South Africa clash:</h3>
<h3>3. Temba Bavuma vs Fazalhaq Farooqi</h3>
<figure class="image" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1740126029544_Fazalhaq-Farooqi--vs-Temba-Bavuma.jpeg" alt="Fazalhaq Farooqi  vs Temba Bavuma" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img>
<figcaption>Fazalhaq Farooqi vs Temba Bavuma (Source: Matthew Lewis-ICC/ICC via Getty Images and ASIF HASSAN/AFP via Getty Images)</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>This will be one of the battles to look forward to which will feature South Africa skipper <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-players/temba-bavuma/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Temba Bavuma</a></strong> and Afghanistan swing specialist left-arm pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi. Bavuma has shown some promising performances at the top in the last few innings and Farooqi has also been sensational with the new ball. This will be an interesting battle between the star opener and the Afghan pacer.</p>
<p>Speaking of the head-to-head stats between the two players, Bavuma has faced 17 deliveries from Farooqi and though he has not been able to dismiss Bavuma, he has contained him. Bavuma has only scored 15 runs off him and has a strike rate of only 88.2 so far in ODI cricket against him.</p>
<p><strong>Also Check - </strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-appeal/champions-trophy-2025-top-5-exciting-matches-you-cant-miss" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Champions Trophy 2025: Top 5 exciting matches you can’t miss</strong>&nbsp;</a><br></p>
<h3>2. Rahmanullah Gurbaz vs Kagiso Rabada</h3>
<figure class="image" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1740128595457_Kagiso-Rabada--vs-Rahmanullah-Gurbaz.jpeg" alt="Kagiso Rabada  vs Rahmanullah Gurbaz" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img>
<figcaption>Kagiso Rabada vs Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Source: Getty Images)</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The next battle which will also be something to look forward to is the battle between Afghanistan's star opening wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz and South Africa star pacer <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-players/kagiso-rabada/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kagiso Rabada</a></strong>. Gurbaz is known for his attacking style of batting at the top. Rabada is known to be a bowler who can bowl in any situation and take wickets. It will be interesting to see who comes out on top.</p>
<p>Once again these two players have not gone head-to-head a lot in the format but the battle has been intense in the few deliveries they have come up against each other. Rabada is yet to dismiss Gurbaz in 50-over cricket but Gurbaz has struggled in the 15 deliveries he has faced so far, scoring only 13 at a strike rate of only 86.7.</p>
<h3>1. Aiden Markram vs Rashid Khan</h3>
<figure class="image" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1740128290994_Rashid-Khan-vs-Aiden-Markram.jpeg" alt="Rashid Khan vs Aiden Markram" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img>
<figcaption>Rashid Khan vs Aiden Markram (Source: Twitter/X)</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>This might be the most intense battle that the fans might get to witness in the game. Proteas middle-order star Aiden Markram who is known for building and keeping the runs flowing in the middle overs, can be brutal when well-set. However, he will have to deal with the guile of one of the best spinners in cricket right now in <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-players/rashid-khan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rashid Khan</a></strong>. The leggie has changed a lot of games with his deceiving variations and wicket-taking ability.</p>
<p>Aiden Markram has struggled against Rashid Khan in ODIs where he has only managed to score 15 runs from the 31 deliveries he has faced at an average of 7.5 and has a strike rate of only 48.4 against him. Rashid has also dismissed Markram twice in One Day Internationals as well.<strong></strong></p>

<p>The National Stadium in Karachi is set to host the battle between two of the most exciting teams in international cricket. On one hand, are the unpredictable underdogs Afghanistan and on the other are the mighty South Africans. It is set to be a great battle between these two teams which will feature some exciting players in the mix. While the Afghans would want to take revenge for the 2024 T20 World Cup semi-final, South Africa will also want to keep their hopes alive for an ICC trophy which they have failed to win since 1998.</p>
<p>There are some great battles to look forward to in this upcoming event which will also be the first match of Group B. Though Afghanistan are making their debut in the Champions Trophy they will be playing in favorable conditions and recently had a great run in their last ODI series. South Africa might have faced problems but still have some players who can be a threat to the Afghans in the match.</p>
<h3>Here are the top 3 player battles to watch out for from the Afghanistan vs South Africa clash:</h3>
<h3>3. Temba Bavuma vs Fazalhaq Farooqi</h3>
<figure class="image"><img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1740126029544_Fazalhaq-Farooqi--vs-Temba-Bavuma.jpeg" alt="Fazalhaq Farooqi  vs Temba Bavuma" loading="lazy">
<figcaption>Fazalhaq Farooqi vs Temba Bavuma (Source: Matthew Lewis-ICC/ICC via Getty Images and ASIF HASSAN/AFP via Getty Images)</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>This will be one of the battles to look forward to which will feature South Africa skipper <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-players/temba-bavuma/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Temba Bavuma</a></strong> and Afghanistan swing specialist left-arm pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi. Bavuma has shown some promising performances at the top in the last few innings and Farooqi has also been sensational with the new ball. This will be an interesting battle between the star opener and the Afghan pacer.</p>
<p>Speaking of the head-to-head stats between the two players, Bavuma has faced 17 deliveries from Farooqi and though he has not been able to dismiss Bavuma, he has contained him. Bavuma has only scored 15 runs off him and has a strike rate of only 88.2 so far in ODI cricket against him.</p>
<p><strong>Also Check - </strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-appeal/champions-trophy-2025-top-5-exciting-matches-you-cant-miss" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Champions Trophy 2025: Top 5 exciting matches you can’t miss</strong>&nbsp;</a><br></p>
<h3>2. Rahmanullah Gurbaz vs Kagiso Rabada</h3>
<figure class="image"><img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1740128595457_Kagiso-Rabada--vs-Rahmanullah-Gurbaz.jpeg" alt="Kagiso Rabada  vs Rahmanullah Gurbaz" loading="lazy">
<figcaption>Kagiso Rabada vs Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Source: Getty Images)</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The next battle which will also be something to look forward to is the battle between Afghanistan's star opening wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz and South Africa star pacer <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-players/kagiso-rabada/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kagiso Rabada</a></strong>. Gurbaz is known for his attacking style of batting at the top. Rabada is known to be a bowler who can bowl in any situation and take wickets. It will be interesting to see who comes out on top.</p>
<p>Once again these two players have not gone head-to-head a lot in the format but the battle has been intense in the few deliveries they have come up against each other. Rabada is yet to dismiss Gurbaz in 50-over cricket but Gurbaz has struggled in the 15 deliveries he has faced so far, scoring only 13 at a strike rate of only 86.7.</p>
<h3>1. Aiden Markram vs Rashid Khan</h3>
<figure class="image"><img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1740128290994_Rashid-Khan-vs-Aiden-Markram.jpeg" alt="Rashid Khan vs Aiden Markram" loading="lazy">
<figcaption>Rashid Khan vs Aiden Markram (Source: Twitter/X)</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>This might be the most intense battle that the fans might get to witness in the game. Proteas middle-order star Aiden Markram who is known for building and keeping the runs flowing in the middle overs, can be brutal when well-set. However, he will have to deal with the guile of one of the best spinners in cricket right now in <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-players/rashid-khan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rashid Khan</a></strong>. The leggie has changed a lot of games with his deceiving variations and wicket-taking ability.</p>
<p>Aiden Markram has struggled against Rashid Khan in ODIs where he has only managed to score 15 runs from the 31 deliveries he has faced at an average of 7.5 and has a strike rate of only 48.4 against him. Rashid has also dismissed Markram twice in One Day Internationals as well.<strong></strong></p>

The National Stadium in Karachi is set to host the battle between two of the most exciting teams in international cricket. On one hand, are the unpredictable underdogs Afghanistan and on the other are

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