South Africa will face Afghanistan in Match 13 of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on February 11, 2026.
This is a rematch of the 2024 T20 World Cup semi-final, where South Africa crushed Afghanistan by 9 wickets. The Proteas bundled out Afghanistan for just 56 runs in that match. Both teams are part of Group D, which also includes New Zealand, Canada, and the UAE.
South Africa started their campaign with a 57-run win over Canada, while Afghanistan lost their opener to New Zealand by 5 wickets. This match is crucial for Afghanistan to bounce back and stay alive in the tournament.
South Africa vs Afghanistan Match Preview
This is the 13th match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 and the second Group D game for both teams. South Africa enters this match with momentum after beating Canada in their opening game. Afghanistan needs to recover from its loss to New Zealand. The winner of this match will take a big step towards qualifying for the Super 8. Both teams have strong spin options,s which could be decisive on the Ahmedabad surface. This is a day game starting at 11:00 AM local time.
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | South Africa vs Afghanistan, 13th Match, Group D |
| Date | 11 February 2026 |
| Time | 11:00 AM Local / 11:00 AM IST |
| Venue | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad |
| Series | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 |
| Context | Group D is crucial for the Super 8 qualification |
Pitch Report
The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad offers a balanced surface that supports both batters and bowlers. The pitch is hard and well-rolled with even bounce. It allows stroke-makers to play through the line with confidence. The square boundaries are 67 metres, while the straight boundaries are longer at over 70 metres.
Pace bowlers get assistance early with bounce and carry. Spinners find it harder to turn the ball, but can be effective with variations. High totals are common at this venue. The average first innings score in T20Is is around 145. Teams batting first have won 6 out of 10 T20Is at this venue.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Pitch Type | Balanced, hard surface with even bounce |
| Average 1st Innings Score | 145 in T20Is |
| Pace vs Spin | 68% wickets to pace, 32% to spin |
| Highest T20I Score | 234/4 by India vs New Zealand (Feb 2023) |
| Toss Factor | Batting first preferred, 60% wins |
Weather Report
Ahmedabad in February has pleasant winter conditions. The temperature on match day will range from 16°C to 31°C. During the morning match, temperatures will be around 24-28°C. Humidity will be low at around 54-60%. Clear skies are expected with no rain forecast. There is a minimal chance of dew in a day game. Ideal conditions for cricket.
| Condition | Details |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 16-31°C (24-28°C during match) |
| Sky | Clear and sunny |
| Rain Chance | 0% |
| Humidity | 54-60% |
| Overall | Perfect conditions for cricket |
Toss Prediction
The captain winning the toss should choose to bat first. At Narendra Modi Stadium, teams batting first have won 60% of T20I matches. The pitch remains consistent throughout and does not deteriorate much. Since this is a day game, dew will not be a factor. Batting first allows teams to put pressure on the opposition with a big score.
Injury Updates
South Africa: The Proteas come into this match with a strong and settled squad. Kagiso Rabada has recovered from his rib injury and is fit for the World Cup.
Afghanistan: The team features the return of Gulbadin Naib and Naveen-ul-Haq, who have recovered from shoulder injuries. Fazalhaq Farooqi and Mujeeb Ur Rahman are back in the squad after missing the recent series.
Dream11 Team For SA vs AFG
South Africa vs Afghanistan Head-to-Head Records in T20Is
South Africa and Afghanistan have met 3 times in T20Is. South Africa has won all 3 matches. The most recent meeting was the 2024 T20 World Cup semi-final where South Africa won by 9 wickets after bowling out Afghanistan for 56. This was Afghanistan’s lowest T20I score ever. South Africa’s pace attack has historically troubled Afghanistan’s batting.
| Category | Stats |
|---|---|
| Total T20I Matches | 3 |
| South Africa Wins | 3 |
| Afghanistan Wins | 0 |
| Last Meeting | SA won by 9 wickets (T20 WC 2024 SF) |
| T20 WC Meetings | 1 (SA won) |
Last Five T20I Meetings
- South Africa won by 9 wickets (with 67 balls remaining) 27-Jun-2024
- South Africa won by 37 runs, 20-Mar-2016
- South Africa won by 59 runs, 06-May-2010
Note: Limited T20I history between these teams, with only 3 matches played.
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Top Picks For The Match
| Player | Team | Role | Key Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quinton de Kock | SA | WK-Batter | 331 runs in last 9 T20Is, SR 184.91 |
| Aiden Markram | SA | Batter/Captain | 272 runs in 8 matches, SR 147.02 |
| Kagiso Rabada | SA | Bowler | Recovered from injury, 2/14 in 2024 SF vs AFG |
| Marco Jansen | SA | All-rounder | 3/16 in 2024 SF vs AFG, Player of the Match |
| Rashid Khan | AFG | Bowler/Captain | 185 T20I wickets, economy 4.58 |
| Ibrahim Zadran | AFG | Batter | 366 runs in 9 matches, avg 52.28 |
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz | AFG | WK-Batter | 301 runs in 9 T20Is, SR 143.33 |
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