Afghanistan and South Africa are gearing up for their first match of the Champions Trophy 2025, scheduled to take place at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi on Friday, February 21.

Eager to start strong, Afghanistan will face South Africa, who are coming off a disappointing loss in a tri-series against Pakistan and New Zealand. Under the leadership of Temba Bavuma, the Proteas are determined to shake off their long-standing struggles in ICC tournaments and make a powerful start in the Champions Trophy.

In terms of conditions, Karachi experienced cooler temperatures overnight, with Thursday night being noticeably chillier compared to previous days, as reported by Express News. There is little chance of rain, making the weather generally favorable for the game.

As for the pitch, the National Stadium is traditionally known to favor batters, particularly during the early stages of the game.

However, as the ball ages, the pitch tends to slow down, making stroke play more difficult. In recent matches, such as the one between Pakistan and New Zealand, the sluggish nature of the pitch in the second innings forced batters to adjust, with spinners playing an increasingly significant role.

Although dew can sometimes assist batters, the opening match of the tournament saw minimal dew, further slowing down the pitch and making it harder to score runs.