Aditya ChaudhuriAfter more than three weeks of action in the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, we have the final four teams as we come close to crowning the champions.
The semi-finals kick off on Day 25, with South Africa taking on the spirited Afghanistan in the first one.
This is the first time Afghanistan have made the semi-finals of an ICC event, while South Africa will be looking to make the final and go all the way to break their trophy drought.
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Men’s T20 WC 2024 Match 55 || Semi-final 1: South Africa vs Afghanistan | 06:00 IST, June 27
No one expected Afghanistan to make the semi-finals given they were in a group with Australia and India in the Super Eights, but Rashid Khan and his men not only stunned Australia but held their nerves against Bangladesh in a must-win situation to make it to the final four.
The Afghans have had Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran star with the bat, while Fazalhaq Farooqi, Rashid Khan, and Gulbadin Naib have contributed with the ball. Naveen ul Haq turned up for the final Super Eight game as well, which would be a welcome blessing for Khan and his squad. The Afghani middle order hasn’t really got runs under the belt, though, so the Proteas will be looking to get them in quick.
While all the hype has been around the likes of India, England, Australia and the West Indies, South Africa have quietly gone about their business, being clinical in almost all their games to lock in a semi-final spot. Almost all of their top six have contributed with the bat when needed, while Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Ottneil Baartman, and Anrich Nortje have done the job with the ball. Tabraiz Shamsi had a good outing with the ball in their last game, so the South African side look like a well-oiled unit.
At a low-scoring venue, we should be in for another close game, with South Africa holding the edge.
Fantasy XI: Quinton de Kock, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Fazalhaq Farooqi
Venue: Tarouba
Winner Prediction: South Africa
