By Afrikeye Staff | Updated: Feb 17, 2026
South Africa vs UAE
As the T20 World Cup group stage nears its conclusion, in South Africa vs UAE ,South Africa is set to face the UAE at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi this Wednesday. For the Proteas, this match is a final rehearsal to sharpen their skills for the Super Eights. For the UAE, it is a chance to leave the global stage with their heads held high.
South Africa’s Dominant Run
South Africa has been the team to beat in Group D. With three wins out of three, Aiden Markram’s men have shown incredible composure. Whether it was a comfortable win over Canada or the nerve-wracking double Super-Over victory against Afghanistan, the Proteas have found ways to win from every situation.
The team’s balance is their biggest asset. While the pace attack has been lethal, Keshav Maharaj has provided expert control in the middle overs.
UAE: Playing for Pride
The UAE’s journey in this tournament has officially come to an end following New Zealand’s recent victory. Despite being eliminated, the Associate nation has shown flashes of brilliance, including a gritty win over Canada. Captain Muhammad Waseem noted that playing against Test-playing nations is a massive learning curve for his squad, and they aim to test South Africa’s top order tomorrow.
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Match Details & Pitch Report
- Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
- Date & Time: Wednesday, February 18 | 11:00 AM Local Time
- What to Expect: Delhi has been a “chase-friendly” ground so far. In the four matches played here this tournament, teams batting second have won three times. A par score is around 150-160, though South Africa’s powerful lineup could easily push past 200 if they bat first.
Team News & Likely Lineups
South Africa
Since qualification is already secured, the Proteas might rotate their squad. Fans are eager to see if the lightning-fast Anrich Nortje or the teenage sensation Kwena Maphaka will get their first game of the tournament.
- Probable XI: Quinton de Kock (wk), Aiden Markram (c), Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje.
UAE
The UAE is expected to stick to a similar lineup that faced Afghanistan, focusing on their spin department to slow down the South African power-hitters.
- Probable XI: Muhammad Waseem (c), Aryansh Sharma (wk), Alishan Sharafu, Sohaib Khan, Syed Haider, Harshit Kaushik, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Jawadullah.
Key Player Milestones to Watch
The spotlight in Delhi will be on South African skipper Aiden Markram, who is currently in sensational form. Having already amassed 150 runs in three innings—including a match-winning 86* against New Zealand—Markram is chasing the top spot on the tournament’s leading run-scorers list.
On the bowling front, Lungi Ngidi remains a major threat; he has already claimed 8 wickets in this edition and is currently ranked second among the tournament’s highest wicket-takers. For the UAE, the explosive Sohaib Khan is their primary hope, coming off a strong performance against Afghanistan where he anchored the middle order with a resilient 68.
Historical Context and Venue Dynamics
This fixture marks the first-ever T20 International meeting between South Africa and the United Arab Emirates, adding a historic layer to the contest. While the Proteas enter as heavy favorites with a 90% win probability, the Arun Jaitley Stadium has proven to be a tricky surface.
Recent matches at the venue, including India’s clash with Namibia, have shown that the pitch can become sluggish in the middle overs, rewarding spinners who can extract grip. UAE’s Junaid Siddique, who has 7 wickets in the tournament so far, will be looking to exploit these conditions early on to disrupt the South African top order before the dew factor makes bowling more difficult in the afternoon.
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