Heinrich Klaasen ruled out of Champions Trophy opener vs Afghanistan

NEW DELHI: South Africa’s star wicketkeeper-batter was absent from the playing XI in the team’s opening match of the

ICC Champions Trophy 2025

against Afghanistan in Karachi on Friday.
Skipper Temba Bavuma won the toss and opted to bat first.

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For their tournament opener, South Africa fielded three frontline pacers along with spinner Keshav Maharaj. Batter Heinrich Klaasen was left out as a precautionary measure as he continues to recover from an elbow injury.

This match marks Afghanistan’s debut in the Champions Trophy. Their playing XI featured one specialist fast bowler, Fazalhaq Farooqi, alongside two seam-bowling all-rounders and a three-man spin attack led by Rashid Khan.

Australia and England, set to face off in Lahore on Saturday, complete Group B.
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Meanwhile, arch-rivals India and Pakistan, who meet in Dubai on Sunday, are part of Group A alongside New Zealand and Bangladesh.
The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals.

Teams:
South Africa: Temba Bavuma (captain), Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Rassie van der Dussen
Afghanistan: Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi