Last Updated: September 29, 2023, 19:13 IST
Thiruvananthapuram, India
The warm-up fixture between the Proteas and Afghanistan did not take place due rains. (Image: AFP)
The first warm-up fixture between South Africa and Afghanistan did not take place due to rains interrupting the play in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
The World Cup warm-up match between South Africa and Afghanistan at Thiruvananthapuram was abandoned without a ball being bowled on Friday.
Heavy rain frustrated both sides who now have one further warm-up to get the plans in order before the tournament gets underway next week.
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The Proteas, whose captain Temba Bavuma has had to travel home for family reasons, will hope the weather improves in Thiruvananthapuram before their final warm-up against New Zealand on Monday.
Bavuma is expected to rejoin the squad for South Africa’s opening match of the tournament against Sri Lanka in Delhi on October 7.
Afghanistan have a final warm-up against Sri Lanka in Guwahati on Tuesday before opening their tournament against Bangladesh in Dharamshala, also on October 7.
South Africa has already faced massive setbacks with the likes of Anrich Nortje being ruled out of the marquee tournament due to an injury. He also missed the 2019 edition of the ODI World Cup due to an injury as well.
The loss of their captain, Temba Bavuma will also not be ideal for the side as the full squad would have liked to get their preparations intact before they got started in the tournament.
South Africa will start their World Cup campaign in a match against Sri Lanka which is set to take place at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi on October 7, 2023.
Afghanistan on the other hand will look to progress from their disastrous campaign in the 2019 World Cup where they lost all nine of their group fixtures. While they are not expected to be contenders, they sure can put up a fight against a decent opposition with the likes of their bowling attack comprising of Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmed, Mujeeb-ur-Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq and others.
With conditions potentially being spin-friendly, the advantage could be with the Afghan side with their lethal spin trio. Experienced campaigners like Mohammed Nabi will also look to close off their World Cup careers on a high by chipping in with decent contributions.
Afghanistan will begin their World Cup campaign against Bangladesh on October 7, 2023, where the match will take place at Dharamsala.
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – AFP)
