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The Proteas are set to face Afghanistan for the first time in a bilateral ODI series, starting in Sharjah on Wednesday. We chose six Betway SA20 stars to keep a close eye on over the course of the three-match series.
1. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Afghanistan - Pretoria Capitals)
The leading run-scorer at the last ICC Men’s T20 World Cup has maintained his good form, with a couple of sparkling innings for the Guyana Amazon Warriors in the Caribbean Premier League. He will want to show that he can now transfer that form to the longer white-ball format. A fascinating duel awaits with his Pretoria Capitals teammate Kyle Verreynne - both with bat and gloves - and it could provide an early indication of who will be behind the stumps at Centurion for Betway SA20 Season 3 next year.
2. Wiaan Mulder (South Africa - Durban’s Super Giants)
Proteas white-ball coach Rob Walter has emphasised the importance of growing the national team’s all-rounder stocks leading into the home 2027 ODI World Cup. Four potential candidates have been selected for the tour of the UAE, which also includes Mulder’s DSG teammate Jason Smith, Paarl Royals’ Andile Phehlukwayo and Sunrisers Eastern Cape young gun Andile Simelane. In the absence of SEC superstar Marco Jansen though, Mulder leads the queue and will be hoping to make a lasting impression.
3. Azmatullah Omarzai (Afghanistan - MI Cape Town)
Proteas fans should remember the hard-hitting all-rounder very well after Omarzai struck a brilliant 97 not out when they last met in an ODI at the World Cup in Ahmedabad last year. It was a brilliant solo effort with Omarzai keeping together a sinking Afghan ship. It formed part of a fantastic World Cup for Omarzai, who struck 353 runs at an average of 70.60 in the competition. His overall ODI record with the bat is equally impressive, averaging 47.93 from 27 ODI’s. The MI Cape Town faithful will be keen to see what attributes their new signing for Season 3 will bring to Newlands next season.
4. Ottniel Baartman (South Africa - Sunrisers Eastern Cape)
The Sunrisers Eastern Cape seam bowler’s meteoric rise continues. Baartman is the undoubted success story of the two opening Betway SA20 seasons, having gone from the obscurity of the Karoo to making his T20I debut to playing in major franchise leagues around the world. He is now set to take the next step in journey with a Proteas ODI debut on the horizon. His skillset, particularly being able to deliver yorkers under pressure at the death, is a prized asset that coach Walter will be hoping he replicates in 50-over cricket.
5. Rashid Khan (Afghanistan - MI Cape Town)
The Afghan superstar has not played the longer white-ball format since the last World Cup due to a back injury. His mystery spinners, along with his batting prowess at the backend of the innings, will no doubt be crucial to Afghanistan’s chances. However, although not the stipulated captain for this series, Rashid is a natural leader as he inspires his teammates just with his mere presence on the field.
6. Nqaba Peter (South Africa - Paarl Royals)
The 22-year-old Paarl Royals leg-spinner is currently in “pinch me, wake me up” dreamland territory. A net bowler to the Proteas just over 18 months ago, Nqaba has elevated himself to the top tier of spinners in South Africa in a blink of an eye. His primary success has been attained in the shortest format, and will now need to show that he does have the patience to put together a spell of 10 overs. He will undoubtedly be tested by the Afghan batters, who are reared on a diet of mystery spin, but he will only be better for the experience.
(With inputs from press release)
