South Africa has already secured their place in the Super 8 stage after winning all three of their Group D matches. They now wrap up their group campaign against the UAE at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on February 18, 2026.
This is a dead rubber in terms of standings, but the Proteas will look to stay sharp and maintain momentum heading into the knockout rounds.
UAE, led by Muhammad Waseem, bowed out of the tournament after losing to both New Zealand and Afghanistan, with their only win coming against Canada. For the UAE, pride and performance are now the only things at stake.
South Africa vs UAE Match Preview
This Group D finale sees South Africa enter in red-hot form, having beaten Canada by 57 runs, survived a dramatic double Super Over against Afghanistan, and then thumped New Zealand by seven wickets. The UAE won just one of their four group matches. The match in Delhi is a day game, so dew will not be a factor. South Africa’s Super 8 opponents are pre-decided regardless of the result here.
| Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Match | South Africa vs UAE, T20 World Cup 34th Match |
| Date | 18 February 2026 |
| Time | 11:00 AM IST / 5:30 AM GMT |
| Venue | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi |
| Series | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 |
| Context | Final Group D match; South Africa already qualified, UAE already eliminated |
Pitch Report
The Arun Jaitley Stadium pitch is generally batting-friendly, with good bounce and a dry, hard surface. Short square boundaries make it easy for batters to clear the ropes. Pacers can extract help early on, especially with the new ball, while spinners start to find some grip and turn as the game progresses.
The Delhi surface has played slow and grippy in recent matches at this tournament. The Afghanistan vs UAE game here just two days ago saw a total of 160 runs, showing that the pitch can assist bowlers who use the conditions well. Batters need to be patient early rather than going for broke from ball one.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Pitch Type | Batting-friendly with a dry, hard surface |
| Average 1st Innings Score | Around 160-165 in T20Is at this venue |
| Pace vs Spin | Pace helps early; spin grows into the game |
| Toss Factor | Bowling is first preferred in day games for fresh pitch moisture |
| Boundary Size | Square boundaries around 60-67 metres |
Weather Report
Delhi in mid-February offers pleasant daytime conditions for cricket. On February 18, temperatures are expected to range from 11°C to 25°C. The match is a morning game, so temperatures during play will hover around 18–24°C. According to the IMD forecast, light rain is possible on February 18, though no heavy rain warning has been issued. Humidity levels will be moderate. There could be some early-morning smog or haze on the ground, as Delhi’s air quality has been poor this week.
| Condition | Details |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 11–25°C (18–24°C during match) |
| Sky | Mostly sunny; slight chance of light rain |
| Rain Chance | Low but not negligible; IMD flags light rain |
| Humidity | Moderate |
| Overall | Good conditions; light rain is a minor risk |
Toss Prediction
The toss will matter in this day game at Arun Jaitley Stadium. The pitch tends to offer early movement for pacers, and the surface can be slightly moist in the morning. However, the pitch at this venue has historically favoured teams that bat first and post a total, as the surface can slow down later. That said, recent T20s at this ground have seen the chasing team do well too. Expect the toss winner to assess conditions and likely choose to field first to take advantage of any early swing.
Injury Updates
South Africa: South Africa has no fresh injury concerns heading into this match.
UAE: The15-member squad has been available throughout. No fresh injury concerns have been reported.
Dream11 Team For South Africa vs UAE
South Africa vs UAE Head-to-Head Records in T20Is
South Africa and the UAE have never met in a T20 International match. The two sides have faced each other only in ODI cricket, most recently in the 1996 and 2015 Cricket World Cups, with South Africa winning both games by large margins. This will be their first-ever T20I meeting, making it a historic fixture.
Last Five T20I Meetings
There have been no previous T20I matches between South Africa and the UAE. This match on February 18, 2026, will be the first T20I ever played between the two sides.
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Top Picks For The Match
| Player | Team | Role | Key Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aiden Markram | SA | Batter / Captain | Tournament-best 86* vs NZ; fastest WC fifty for SA (19 balls) |
| Lungi Ngidi | SA | Bowler | 7 wickets in 3 matches in this WC at an economy of 7.65 |
| Marco Jansen | SA | All-rounder | Took 4 wickets vs NZ; first four-wicket haul in T20Is for him |
| David Miller | SA | Batter | Finisher role; clutch performances in Super Overs vs AFG |
| Junaid Siddique | UAE | Bowler | Maiden five-wicket haul this WC; most first-over wickets in T20Is since 2024 |
| Sohaib Khan | UAE | Batter | Scored 68 off 48 balls with six fours and four sixes vs AFG |
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