South Africa are set to face Afghanistan in the 13th match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, with both teams approaching the contest with very different starts to their campaigns. While South Africa began their tournament on a high, Afghanistan will be eager to bounce back after an early setback. With crucial points at stake, both sides know the importance of delivering a strong performance to keep their World Cup ambitions on track.
The Proteas looked in fine touch in their opening game against Canada, registering a commanding 57-run victory. Their batting lineup fired in unison to post a total of 213/4, which proved far too much for the opposition. That all-round display gave South Africa a perfect start and underlined their depth and balance. Led by Aiden Markram, they will be keen to carry that momentum forward, especially with challenging fixtures against Afghanistan and New Zealand coming up in quick succession.
Afghanistan, on the other hand, suffered a five-wicket defeat in their first match against New Zealand, but the result did not tell the full story. Their batters showed admirable intent and confidence, putting up a competitive performance on the day. The bowling attack, however, struggled to maintain control at key moments and will be looking to tighten things up in this clash. Despite the loss, Afghanistan can take heart from the positive mindset they displayed, and they will aim to channel that belief into a stronger, more complete showing against South Africa.
SA vs AFG, T20 World Cup 2026: Match details
- Date and Time: February 11; 11:00 am IST / 5:30 am GMT
- Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
SA vs AFG, Head-to-Head Record in T20Is
Matches played: 03 | South Africa won: 03 | Afghanistan won: 0
Narendra Modi Stadium Pitch Report
The Narendra Modi Stadium has earned a reputation for hosting high-scoring matches, with conditions that largely suit batters. The pitch usually offers good pace and bounce, allowing the ball to come cleanly onto the bat and encouraging fluent stroke-play. This gives batters the confidence to play their shots freely, making the powerplay a crucial phase for teams looking to set a strong platform and post big totals.
That said, fast bowlers are not completely out of the game early on. With a fresh surface and the new ball, there is often some movement and carry on offer, rewarding bowlers who maintain discipline and vary their pace wisely. As the match progresses, however, the pitch tends to slow down, bringing spinners into the picture. The ball begins to grip more, making timing slightly more difficult, particularly through the middle overs.
Squads
South Africa: Quinton de Kock (wk), Aiden Markram (c), Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Jason Smith, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, Corbin Bosch, George Linde, Tristan Stubbs, Kwena Maphaka
Afghanistan: Rashid Khan (c), Noor Ahmad, Abdullah Ahmadzai, Sediqullah Atal, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Naveen Ul Haq, Mohammad Ishaq, Shahidullah Kamal, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Darwish Rasooli, Ibrahim Zadran
SA vs AFG, T20 World Cup 2026: Today’s Match Prediction
Case 1:
- South Africa wins the toss and bats first
- South Africa’s powerplay score: 50-60 (6 overs)
- South Africa’s total score: 170-180
Case 2:
- Afghanistan wins the toss and bats first
- Afghanistan’s powerplay score: 40-50 (6 overs)
- Afghanistan’s total score: 150-160
Match result: South Africa to win the contest.
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