New Delhi, February 18 – South Africa have included Jason Smith, Kwena Maphaka, Anrich Nortje, and George Linde in their squad. Captain Aiden Markram won the toss and opted to bowl against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in their final Group D match of the Men’s T20 World Cup at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Wednesday.
South Africa have already qualified for the Super Eights, while the UAE will return home after Wednesday’s match. At the venue, the covers were briefly put on, but they were removed just in time for the toss. However, there is still a possibility of rain in the morning and afternoon, especially with the floodlights on.
After winning the toss, Markram said that his decision to bowl first was influenced by the weather. “There is some rain around. There has been moisture here this morning, and we might be able to find something in the pitch. Most of the outfield feels it too. I don't know how much rain fell last night or how much water has been applied, but it definitely feels damp.”
Markram also said that the decision to rest David Miller, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, and Lungi Ngidi was to give other players on the bench a chance to play. “With our fast bowlers upfront, and potentially some spinners in the middle, I think we can get a good start. Most of the time, if we get a chance to give guys playing time, that’s what we want to do.”
UAE captain Muhammad Waseem said that off-spinner Dhruv Parashar and leg-spinner Muhammad Farooq will replace wicketkeeper-batsman Syed Haider and left-arm spinner Simranjeet Singh in the playing eleven.
“I think we probably would have bowled first too. There does seem to be some moisture in the pitch early on, so we’ll have to assess the conditions quickly. But having said that, we’re also happy to bat first. It’s about adapting well, putting up a competitive total, and then relying on our bowlers to defend it.”
“If the sun comes out and it dries up a bit, that could make a difference. For us, the key will be to get through the first phase safely, build partnerships, and then try to accelerate in the middle and later stages.”
“Apart from the changes, the rest of the team remains the same. The boys have built some good momentum, so it’s about keeping that going and sticking to what has worked for us so far,” he said.
Playing XIs:
South Africa: Aiden Markram (captain), Quinton de Kock (wk), Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, Jason Smith, George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, and Kwena Maphaka
UAE: Aryansh Sharma (wk), Muhammad Waseem (captain), Alishan Sharafu, Sohaib Khan, Syed Haider, Muhammad Arfan, Dhruv Parashar, Muhammad Farooq, Haider Ali, Junaid Siddique, and Muhammad Jawadullah
