South Africa and Afghanistan are ready to face each other in the 13th match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, on Wednesday, February 11. This match is scheduled to begin at 11:00 AM IST. Stay tuned with our SA vs AFG prediction, team preview, pitch report, player stats and winner prediction ahead of this exciting contest.
South Africa have made a confident start to their campaign with a clear win over Canada at the same venue. Their strong batting and quality fast bowling have once again shown why they are seen as one of the main contenders in Group D. After reaching the final of the 2024 T20 World Cup, South Africa look settled and balanced, and their early performance has only strengthened belief in their chances.
On the other hand, Afghanistan began their tournament with a loss to New Zealand in a high-scoring match, despite putting up a competitive total. As semi-finalists in the 2024 T20 World Cup, Afghanistan have already proved they can compete with top sides.
Head-to-Head Record: Till now, a total of 3 T20 matches have been played between these two sides, in which South Africa won all 3 matches, while Afghanistan have not won any. South Africa have clearly dominated this rivalry, including a strong nine-wicket win when the teams met in the 2024 T20 World Cup at Tarouba.
South Africa Preview
The Proteas began their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign with a 57-run win over Canada at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Batting first, they scored 213/4 and then restricted Canada to 156/8. This result gave South Africa a strong start in a tough group. After finishing runners-up in the 2024 edition, South Africa will look to carry this momentum forward and push for a Super Eight spot.
In batting, captain Aiden Markram top-scored with 59 runs off 32 balls. Quinton de Kock provided a quick start, while Ryan Rickelton, David Miller, and Tristan Stubbs added fast runs in the middle and death overs. South Africa maintained a high scoring rate throughout the innings to finish with 213 runs. Markram and Miller also came into the tournament in good form after strong performances in SA20 2025.
With the ball, Lungi Ngidi led the attack with 4 wickets for 31 runs and was named Player of the Match. Marco Jansen supported him with 2 wickets, while Kagiso Rabada and Corbin Bosch took one wicket each. Keshav Maharaj controlled the middle overs, and Anrich Nortje remains an additional pace option. Overall, South Africa showed a balanced bowling effort to comfortably defend their total against Afghanistan in the upcoming match.
Tip
| Player | Tip | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Aiden Markram | Over 29.5 Runs | 1.85 |
Aiden Markram scored a fluent 59 off 32 balls in the opening match and looked in complete control. As captain and a key top-order batter, he remains South Africa’s safest pick to anchor the innings and cross this mark again.
Afghanistan Preview
Afghanistan lost their opening match to New Zealand but showed strong intent with the bat. After early wickets on a difficult Chennai pitch, they recovered well to score 182/6, showing improved depth and control in their batting. As semi-finalists in the 2024 T20 World Cup, Afghanistan will aim to respond quickly and stay in the race for a Super Eight spot in a competitive Group D.
Gulbadin Naib was the standout batter, scoring 63 off 35 balls and rebuilding the innings after both openers fell early. He was supported by Sediqullah Atal (29) and Darwish Rasooli (20) in the middle overs, while Rahmanullah Gurbaz again provided a quick start at the top. Afghanistan’s batting looks settled, with experienced players like Mohammad Nabi and Najibullah Zadran adding finishing strength to the lower middle order.
Afghanistan’s bowling continues to revolve around their spin attack. Rashid Khan leads the unit, supported by Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi through the middle overs. Mujeeb made an early impact by removing both New Zealand openers in the powerplay. Fazalhaq Farooqi and Ziaur Rahman Sharifi handle pace duties, while Azmatullah Omarzai and Gulbadin Naib provide additional seam options, giving Afghanistan a flexible and well-rounded bowling attack suited to conditions in Ahmedabad.
Tip
| Player | Tip | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Gulbadin Naib | Over 23.5 Runs | 1.85 |
Gulbadin Naib played a crucial knock of 63 off just 35 balls after early wickets fell. His current form and responsibility in the middle order make him Afghanistan’s most reliable run scorer right now and a strong pick to cross this line again.
SA vs AFG Probably Playing XI
South Africa: Quinton de Kock (WK), Ryan Rickelton, Aiden Markram (C), Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi.
Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan (C), Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Ziaur Rahman Sharifi.
SA vs AFG Pitch Report
The pitch at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, is usually a good surface for batting. The bounce is even and the fast outfield helps the batters once they get set, allowing runs to flow freely. Fast bowlers may get some help early in the innings, especially with a fresh pitch and a morning start, but the surface becomes easier for batting as the match goes on. The last match at this venue also saw high scores from both teams, showing that batting-friendly conditions are likely again, and another high-scoring contest can be expected here.
The weather on Tuesday at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad is expected to be sunny, around 27°C, with 0% chance of rain, comfortable 39% humidity and light winds near 8 km/h.
Venue T20I Statistics
| Stats | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Matches | 12 |
| Matches won batting first | 8 |
| Matches won bowling first | 4 |
| Average 1st innings Score | 170 |
| Average 2nd innings Score | 144 |
| Highest total recorded | 234/4 (20 Ovs) – IND vs NZ |
| Lowest total recorded | 66/10 (12.1 Ovs) – NZ vs IND |
| Highest score chased | 166/3 (17.5 Ovs) – IND vs ENG |
| Lowest score defended | 107/7 (20 Ovs) – WIW vs INDW |
SA vs AFG Winner Prediction
South Africa have enjoyed the upper hand against Afghanistan in T20 cricket and come into this match with confidence after a strong start to the tournament. They have more experience in big ICC events, a solid batting lineup, and a powerful pace attack that can control games, especially if conditions suit fast bowlers. If South Africa stick to their plans and start well, they should be in a good position to win this contest.
On the other hand, Afghanistan are never an easy side to beat and have shown in recent tournaments that they can challenge top teams. Their spin attack can be dangerous if the pitch slows down, and they have players who can change the game quickly. If Afghanistan get early wickets and their spinners find rhythm, they could put South Africa under pressure.
Our Prediction: South Africa
T20 World Cup 2026 Live Streaming Details
| Region | Where to Watch |
|---|---|
| India | Star Sports, Jio Hotstar |
| Sri Lanka | ThePapare, Dialog Play |
| Pakistan | Myco, Tamasha, Tapmad, ARY Zapp |
| Afghanistan | AF Sports |
| Bangladesh | TSM (via Rabbithole) |
| North America | Willow |
| Middle East & North Africa | E& (selected matches), ICC.tv |
| United Kingdom | Sky Sports, ICC.tv |
| Sub-Saharan Africa | SuperSport, ICC.tv |
| New Zealand | Sky TV NZ , ICC.tv |
| Australia, Europe, Caribbean, SE Asia, Pacific Islands, South America | ICC.tv |
Code: TOPBK
