Aiden Markram’s team has been clinical in this tournament, winning seven games in a row, including a 3-wicket victory over West Indies in their last Super 8 game. However, they face pressure, having reached the semifinals twice before, in 2009 and 2014, without making it to the final. With key players in good form, Markram will expect a positive performance from his players in this contest.

Quinton de Kock and Reeza Hendricks have shown inconsistent form, and the team will be counting on a strong start from them. The Afghan bowlers have consistently troubled opponents early, so the openers must deliver. The middle order, featuring Markram, Heinrich Klassen, and Tristan Stubbs, is the team’s real strength. David Miller and Marco Jansen will aim to take on the Afghan bowlers in the final overs to secure victory.

The bowling attack has performed well throughout the tournament. Early wickets from Marco Jansen and Markram will be crucial to putting Afghanistan under pressure. Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje will look to dominate the middle overs with their pace, exploiting Afghanistan’s struggle against quality pace attacks. Spinners Tabraiz Shamsi and Keshav Maharaj will enjoy the conditions and aim to use them to their advantage.

Rashid Khan’s team has made all the right headlines this tournament, culminating in a thrilling 8-run win in their last Super 8 game, finishing ahead of Australia. This will be Afghanistan’s first semifinal in an ICC tournament, and the inspirational side will aim to meet their fans’ expectations against a strong South African team.

Openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran have collectively scored nearly 500 runs and will look to provide a strong start. Gulbadin Naib has been in good form recently and will bolster the middle order alongside Azmatullah Omarzai and Mohammad Nabi. The team will also rely on contributions from Karim Janat and Nangeyalia Kharote, as runs will not come easily against the South African bowlers.

Afghanistan’s bowling attack has been their strength, winning them games. Fazalhaq Farooqi, the leading wicket-taker in the tournament, will aim to strike early along with the previous game’s hero, Naveen-ul-Haq. Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi are crucial in the middle overs, tasked with unsettling the South African batsmen with their variations. Noor Ahmed and Gulbadin Naib add depth to this strong bowling lineup.