Currently holding the record for the most ODI games played worldwide is Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
The subcontinent has seen a surge in cricket activity recently, with multiple Asian nations participating in Test and ODI matches. Afghanistan, who were upset before that they were unable to test themselves against New Zealand in the red-ball style in Greater Noida because of nonstop rain, will now face South Africa at a renowned location.
It is noteworthy that a three-match ODI series between the two countries will begin on Wednesday, September 18, at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. When the iconic venue holds its 250th game, it will create another chapter in history. Sharjah will thus become the first location in history to stage 250 limited-overs matches worldwide. Meanwhile, there have been five times that South Africa and Afghanistan have faced off. But the Asian team hasn’t triumphed over Proteas in a game yet.
Hashmatullah Shahidi, the captain of Afghanistan, will try to end the team’s losing trend against the African team by playing some excellent cricket. Additionally, he said that the team would want to put as much pressure on the opposition as possible because the game may change course at any time. Furthermore, he said that although South Africa is one of the hardest teams to play against, Afghanistan will have an advantage over the African team due to its familiarity with the Sharjah environment, which is another of its home bases. They have, however, recently moved their base to Noida.
They are among the best teams in the world, as far as I’m aware. However, we are positive that we can play solid cricket and exert pressure on them. In cricket, anything can happen. We are playing a bilateral series with such large squads for the first time. Of course, Shahidi was quoted, “We are both excited and confident.
We are playing in environments that we are accustomed to. We in the UAE have played cricket more than anyone else. Thus, we are fully aware of the pitches and additional elements. We’ll attempt to rely on our bowling spin strength. He went on, “We hope to give South Africa a tough time. The team includes some elite spinners.
It’s interesting to note that top player Rashid Khan, one of Afghanistan’s most seasoned participants, will return to action after a protracted battle with a back injury. He’ll be hoping to get off to a fast start versus South Africa. Willy legspinner Mujeeb-ur-Rehman and Mohammad Nabi will share the spin load, respectively. As a result, they rank among Asia’s best spin lineups.
They proved their mettle in the 50-over World Cup, so they are no longer the underdogs: Markram
However, Aiden Markram, the temporary captain of South Africa, was not taking the Afghans lightly. Afghanistan, in his opinion, is no longer the world’s underdog. Therefore, heading into the first ODI, his team won’t be complacent against them. He also praised Afghanistan for their amazing performance in the 2023 ODI World Cup, when they advanced to the semi-finals. Additionally, Temba Bavuma, South Africa’s normal captain, will not be available because of an injury that kept him out of the first ODI.
They are not underdogs anymore. They boast a number of elite players, who proved their mettle in the 50-over World Cup. Their progress to the semi-finals of the main event demonstrates their ODI credentials. Markram said, “We will not allow complacency to creep in” on Afghanistan’s ascent.
We know full well that under these circumstances, Afghanistan might be a risky client. Their specialty is spin bowling, and spinners typically benefit from the pitches in this area. However, he added, we are ready to face them.
In terms of Sharjah’s amazing history, it all started in 1981 with an Adbul Rahman Bukhatir Cricketer’s Benefit Fund Series (CBFS). The famous person’s main objective was to honor the enormous achievements made by Indian and Pakistani cricket heroes, both past and present.
