When and what time do the Proteas play their first ICC Champions trophy match

The Proteas are scheduled to play their first ICC Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan. The tournament has already started.

The Proteas are set to kick off their ICC Champions Trophy campaign on Friday. Image: @ProteasMenCSA/X

The Proteas kicked off their ICC Champions Trophy campaign against Afghanistan on Friday.

Under the leadership of Themba Bavuma, the team has struggled with consistency in the One Day International (ODI) format recently and will need to be sharp if they hope to win the tournament.

The last time South Africa lifted a trophy was in this same competition back in 1998 during its inaugural edition. Having reached the semi-finals of the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2023, the Proteas may feel this is their last opportunity to secure a title with this generation of players.

The ICC Champions Trophy starts on the 19th but the Proteas will only play on Friday morning.

With powerful hitters like David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen in the middle order, South Africa has the depth to challenge bowlers effectively. Bavuma, Rassie van der Dussen, and the inexperienced Ryan Rickelton will need to score runs early in the innings to set the stage for the big hitters to shine later on. In the bowling department, the Proteas enter the ICC Champions Trophy without their top bowlers. Anrich Nortje and Gerald Coetzee are sidelined due to injuries, leaving Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi as the two experienced fast bowlers in the squad.

What time do the Proteas play their ICC Champions Trophy opener?

The Proteas are scheduled to play their first ICC Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan on Friday, 21 February at 11:00 at the National Bank Stadium in Pakistan. Following this match, they will face Australia on Tuesday, and their final group match will be against England.