The Proteas are gearing up for a spin-heavy challenge as they take on Afghanistan in a three-match One-Day International (ODI) series starting on Wednesday in the United Arab Emirates. Afghanistan's squad has been strengthened by the return of star spinner Rashid Khan, who missed the recent Test match against New Zealand to rest his back.
Rashid, who underwent back surgery in November following the ICC Cricket World Cup, has been busy playing in Major League Cricket (USA), The Hundred (UK), and the Shpageeza Cricket League in Afghanistan. His vast experience will make him a significant threat at the spin-friendly Sharjah Stadium, where conditions are expected to favour spin bowlers early in the game.
South Africa will be without their premier spin player Heinrich Klaasen, but middle-order batsmen Tristan Stubbs and Aiden Markram are expected to take on the challenge of countering Afghanistan's spin attack. Fast bowler Lungi Ngidi, though hopeful for some assistance for seamers, acknowledges that Sharjah may prove to be a spinners' paradise.
“We’re aware of their strength in spin,” Ngidi said. “Having played here before, we’ve seen how important spinners can be. But if we get a bit of swing or lateral movement, our seamers will need to step up. We’ll assess the conditions as they come.”
Afghanistan’s top-order aggression also poses a challenge. Despite the absence of influential opener Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz remains a key figure in their batting lineup. Known for attacking upfront during power plays, Afghanistan’s openers will aim to put pressure on South Africa early in the game.
“They’re very aggressive at the top, which is a cornerstone of their batting,” Ngidi added. “The key for us is to control their top order. We’ll need to chase down whatever they put on the board, knowing their strength lies in their bowling during the second innings.”