Karachi, Mar 1 (UNI) England captain Jos Buttler won the toss and opted to bat first against South Africa in their final group-stage match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at the National Stadium here on Saturday.
Speaking at the toss, Buttler said, “We are going to bat first today, looks like a decent wicket, a few cracks there. I felt like it was time, so I didn’t want to take more time to take that decision. It was an easy decision and I will do it for one last time, hopefully we can do well. A bit of sadness as well, it’s an honour to captain your country, it’s something you dream about. Saqib Mahmood comes in.”
South Africa skipper Aiden Markram expressed his satisfaction with the opportunity to chase. “We are actually happy to chase, haven’t chased in this competition yet, we are looking forward to have a good game against a strong English side. Two guys have had illness around the camp, Tony de Zorzi and Temba Bavuma miss out. Unfortunate that they miss out but hopefully they will recover. Our last game got rained out, we had a few training sessions, we are ready for this game,” Markram said.
The Proteas have been dominant in the tournament, registering a commanding victory over Afghanistan and securing a crucial point from a rain-affected match against Australia. A win today would see them finish as Group B leaders and enter the semifinals with momentum.
England, already eliminated from the tournament, will be playing for pride. With Buttler stepping down as captain after this game, the match marks the end of an era for England’s white-ball side. Their campaign was marred by inconsistent performances, particularly with the ball, leading to crucial defeats against Australia and Afghanistan.
The pitch report suggests a batting-friendly surface with good value for shots. The quick outfield and Australian-like conditions make it conducive for stroke play, though spinners might come into play under lights. Both matches at this venue so far have been won by teams batting first, with scores in excess of 300 proving to be the winning formula.
With bright weather conditions and a crucial encounter on the cards, the stage is set for an exciting contest.
Teams: England (Playing XI): Philip Salt, Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith(w), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (c), Liam Livingstone, Jamie Overton, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Saqib Mahmood
South Africa (Playing XI): Tristan Stubbs, Ryan Rickelton, Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram(c), Heinrich Klaasen(w), David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi
