New Delhi, Feb. 20 -- Debutants Afghanistan will seek a strong start as they take on South Africa in a Group B encounter of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at the National Stadium in Karachi on Friday. For South Africa, whose only senior ICC title came way in 1998 during the inaugural ICC Champions Trophy (then known as Knockout Trophy), will once again attempt to shed the 'chokers' tag.

While the batting line-up looks balanced, the major challenge for the Proteas is their bowling line-up after key pacers Anrich Nortje, Nandre Burger, and Gerald Coetzee were all ruled out due to injuries.

On the other hand, Afghanistan enter the tournament as one of the semifinal contenders, considering their rise in international cricket in recent times....