In a landmark moment for cricket, Afghanistan is set to host South Africa for their first-ever bilateral One Day International (ODI) series, scheduled to take place from September 18 to September 22, 2024, at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in the United Arab Emirates. This series marks a significant development in the cricketing relationship between the two nations, as it will be their first ODI encounter outside of ICC tournaments.
Series Schedule
- 1st ODI: Wednesday, September 18, 2024, at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, UAE
- 2nd ODI: Friday, September 20, 2024, at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, UAE
- 3rd ODI: Sunday, September 22, 2024, at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, UAE
Historical Context
Previously, Afghanistan and South Africa have faced each other only twice in ODI cricket, both during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cups in 2019 and 2023, with South Africa emerging victorious on both occasions. In addition to ODIs, the teams have competed in three T20 Internationals during the Men’s T20 World Cups in 2010, 2016, and 2024, where South Africa has again won each encounter. Their most recent match took place in the semi-finals of the Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, where South Africa secured a convincing win.
Significance of the Series
Cricket South Africa (CSA) Chairman Lawson Naidoo expressed enthusiasm about the upcoming series, emphasizing its importance in strengthening cricketing ties between the two countries. “We are excited to embark on this historic ODI series with Afghanistan, who have become a very competitive all-round team, as evidenced by their recent performances in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. This is a significant milestone in our cricketing relations, and we look forward to a competitive and entertaining series,” he stated.
Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) Chairman Mirwais Ashraf echoed Naidoo’s sentiments, highlighting the significance of the series in Afghanistan’s cricketing journey. “These fixtures were not initially part of our FTP, but based on our productive negotiations with our counterparts at Cricket South Africa, we concluded that we will host the Proteas for an ODI series in September. They are an excellent team, and we are eagerly looking forward to hosting them and playing them regularly in the future.”
As Afghanistan prepares to take on South Africa in this historic ODI series, fans from both nations are eagerly anticipating the matches. This series not only marks a pivotal moment in Afghanistan’s cricketing history but also sets the stage for future encounters between the two sides, promising competitive and entertaining cricket.
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