In a landmark match, South Africa and Afghanistan are set to make history as one of them will reach their first-ever Cricket World Cup final. The semifinal of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 will take place at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, Trinidad and Tobago, on Thursday.
Afghanistan's journey to the semifinals has been nothing short of inspiring. They have been steadily rising in this format, overcoming formidable teams like New Zealand and the powerhouse Australia. Their impressive run in the tournament showcases their growth and potential in international cricket.
Standing in Afghanistan's path is an unbeaten South African team, eager to break their semifinal jinx. South Africa has lost all seven previous World Cup semifinals across different formats. This time, they are determined to change their fate. With a strong batting line-up and a versatile bowling attack, they are confident that 2024 is their year to shine.
The Brian Lara Cricket Academy, with its 15,000-capacity, will host its fifth and final match of the tournament. Previous games at this venue saw low scores, with West Indies’ 149/9 against New Zealand being the highest.
Despite their perfect record, South Africa has faced close calls. The Netherlands, Bangladesh, and Nepal all came close to defeating the Proteas during the group stage. The co-hosts USA also gave them a tough time at the start of the Super Eights. However, South Africa managed to pull off crucial wins in these tight situations, shedding their reputation for "choking" in favor of delivering under pressure.
South Africa's journey to the semifinals included thrilling matches against England and West Indies, both of which were decided in the final over.
Afghanistan's stunning victory over Australia was a highlight of their campaign. They emerged from a tough group, advancing at the expense of New Zealand. Despite a loss to India, they bounced back to beat Australia and edged past Bangladesh by eight runs in a nail-biting finish to secure their semifinal spot.
South Africa faces a key decision on whether to include a second front-line spinner, Tabraiz Shamsi, or opt for an additional pacer, Ottneil Baartman. Afghanistan might consider bringing back Hazratullah Zazai to strengthen their top order against South Africa's formidable bowling attack.
Teams: South Africa: Aiden Markram (c), Ottniel Baartman, Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, David Miller, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs
Afghanistan: Rashid Khan (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Azmatullah Omarzai, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Ishaq, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Karim Janat, Nangyal Kharoti, Hazratullah Zazai, Noor Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Fareed Ahmad Malik
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