Afghanistan send South Africa to bat in must-win T20 World Cup match

AHMEDABAD, India (AP) — Afghanistan won the toss and sent 2024 runners-up South Africa to bat Wednesday in a crucial Group D match at the Twenty20 Cricket World Cup.

South Africa won its opening match against Canada. Afghanistan lost their first match against New Zealand and need a win to maintain their chances of progressing to the Super Eights from a group containing three top-ranked teams. Only the top two teams from each of the four groups will advance.

Announcement

New Zealand is 2-0 and leads the group.

Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan said his IPL home ground is a good pitch to bowl first on and he prefers chasing a target. Afghanistan were surprising semi-finalists of the 2024 World Cup before losing to South Africa in that tournament in the Caribbean and the United States.

South Africa made a line-up change, with left-arm orthodox spinner George Linde replacing fast bowling all-rounder Corbin Bosch.

For Afghanistan, left-arm wrist bowler Noor Ahmad has been brought in to replace medium pace bowler Ziaur Rahman.

In subsequent matches on Wednesday, Australia will play their opening match of the tournament against Ireland in Group B and England will face the West Indies in Group C.

Announcement

The biggest rivalry of the tournament’s group stage is back after unbeaten Pakistan reversed their decision to boycott and will go ahead with their Group A match against India on Sunday.

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Lineups:

Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan (captain), Fazalhaq Farooqi, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman.

South Africa: Aiden Markram (captain), Quinton de Kock, Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, George Linde, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi.

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AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket