SA20 STARS COLLIDE: PROTEAS FACE AFGHAN SPIN CHALLENGE IN T20 WORLD CUP

The Proteas face familiar foes Afghanistan in a crucial ICC T20 World Cup clash in Ahmedabad on Wednesday.

Both teams are well acquainted, with a host of Afghanistan stars competing in the Betway SA20 over the past four seasons. MI Cape Town captain Rashid Khan will lead the way for the Afghans and will be accompanied by his teammates Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Noor Ahmad.

The spin trio will be keen to pose the Proteas plenty of problems on a surface that is expected to assist the slow bowlers due to the early start (11h00 India time).

We take a closer look at three potential match-ups that could decide the outcome of this all-important match.

1. Aiden Markram vs Rashid Khan

The battle of the captains will resume at the Narendra Modi Stadium. This pair have gone hammer and tongs against each other in the Betway SA20. 

Markram, initially in his guise as Sunrisers Eastern Cape skipper, dominated the battles before Rashid exacted his revenge by leading MI Cape Town to the Betway SA20 championship title over SEC in the Season 3 final.

Markram has since joined DSG, where he scored a crucial 35 off just 17 balls, which included a six off Rashid, to lead his new team to victory in the Season 4 opener at Newlands. 

Their battle of wits, including their personal contributions with bat and ball respectively, could go a long way in turning the game in their team’s favour. 

“It helps you to share that information with the team. Like, personally I've been playing for long, played with each and every one (SA players) for a long time,” Rashid said.

“I think it does help the youngsters who haven't played and give them the kind of idea of what's going to happen, what their mindset is, and I think it really helps. Spent one month there and I think that information you bring to the national team, it really helped the youngsters.”

2. Ryan Rickelton vs Noor Ahmad

After receiving a late call-up to the Proteas’ T20 World Cup squad, Rickelton has quickly made the No 3 spot his own with a few solid contributions. Betway SA20’s all-time leading run-scorer will look to continue this form against the Afghans, especially after previously attaining success against one of their premier bowlers in Noor Ahmad.

The mystery spinner missed out on selection in Afghanistan’s opening game against New Zealand, but is expected to be back in the line-up against the Proteas.

He was the second-highest wicket-taker in all T20 cricket with 85 scalps at an average of 19.73 and an economy of 7.45 last year, but Rickelton showed that he was not unplayable by attacking the wrist-spinner during his brilliant century in the Season 4 opener at Newlands. Rickelton scored 25 runs off 15 balls from Noor Ahmad, which included two sixes and two fours.

3. Tristan Stubbs vs Mujeeb Ur Rahman

The Afghan wizard Mujeeb Ur Rahman has been among the most consistent performers for the Paarl Royals since joining the Winelands team in Season 3. In 19 Betway SA20 matches, he has claimed 19 wickets whilst boasting a miserly economy rate of just 6.85.

Mujeeb does most of his damage upfront and will pose a threat to Markram and Quinton de Kock in the Powerplay.

But he also returns at the death to keep the batters quiet, and this is where he will encounter the Sunrisers Eastern Cape captain Stubbs. The SEC skipper has hit form just at the right time, particularly after his match-winning performance in the Season 4 final at Newlands, and is looking again like the swashbuckling batter that was able to clear the ropes with ease.

When SA20 stars collide on the world stage, history and bragging rights follow.