February 22, 2025: After Afghanistan’s 107-run loss to South Africa in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, captain Hashmatullah Shahidi reflected on the defeat, emphasizing that there were still positive takeaways for his team despite the disappointing result. South Africa’s Ryan Rickelton played a brilliant knock, scoring a century, and Kagiso Rabada’s three-wicket haul played a pivotal role in their commanding victory.
Shahidi acknowledged that Afghanistan’s batting performance, especially during the first 20 overs, was below par, contributing to their struggle. He noted that the pitch conditions were challenging, with cracks that aided the bowlers, making it difficult for Afghanistan to get going. Despite the defeat, Shahidi remained optimistic about his team’s ability to bounce back.
“The toss was key today. There were many cracks on this pitch, and it wasn’t a typical Karachi surface. The South African bowlers bowled disciplined lengths, which made it harder for us to get into the game,” Shahidi said. “But we have achieved a lot as a team, and we have the ability to fight in every game. We still have important matches ahead of us, and we will take the positives from this loss and move forward.”
Shahidi specifically praised his team’s ability to weather tough situations, mentioning their resilience in the face of adversity. “He (Rickelton) played really well. It was an innings in tough times, but we’ll use this as motivation. We still have a chance to play quality cricket,” he concluded.
Afghanistan will be looking to regroup and come back stronger in their upcoming fixtures, hoping to make a mark in the ongoing Champions Trophy.