The third fixture of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will see Afghanistan go head-to-head with South Africa on Friday, February 21. The match will be hosted at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi. It will be the first Group B game of the tournament. The Proteas have recently done well in ICC events. They made the semi-finals of the 2023 ODI World Cup before qualifying for the T20 World Cup final last year. Having lost on both occasions, South Africa will hope to redeem themselves in the Champions Trophy. Their tri-nation series in Pakistan also ended on a sour note but they remain as one of the favourites. As for Afghanistan, the Asian side is set to make their Champions Trophy debut against South Africa after a brilliant run in ODI cricket. They had a solid display in the 2023 World Cup in India. The Hasmatullah Shahidi-led side has also secured series victories in their last four ODI tours. It includes a 2-1 triumph over the mighty Proteas. Given their recent performances, Afghanistan will be brimming with confidence in their tournament opener. They will be looking to surprise a few teams in their campaign. Karachi Weather Forecast: Karachi will experience cloudy skies during Afghanistan’s Champions Trophy clash against South Africa on February 21. The chances of precipitation remain low at three per cent. The temperatures will likely hover around 30 degrees Celsius during the day and 17 degrees Celsius at night. Wind speeds will range between 10 to 15 km/h with a maximum humidity level of 48 per cent. (Courtesy: Accuweather) National Bank Stadium Pitch Report: The cricket pitch at the National Bank Stadium favours both batters and bowlers. Batters can make use of the pitch’s good bounce to perform their strokes with ease. The conditions for batting tend only to get better as the game progresses. Pacers, on the other hand, receive slight assistance when a new ball comes into play. Teams would ideally choose to field first at this venue. The average first innings score in Karachi is 246 runs but recent games have witnessed high-scoring affairs. Teams chasing at this venue typically enjoy a slight advantage over the sides batting first here.