As the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 reaches its critical group stage crescendo, South Africa aim to maintain their flawless streak, while the United Arab Emirates (UAE) looks to pull off the ultimate heist. They will clash at the iconic Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
South Africa enter this fixture as the undisputed leaders of Group D. Following a clinical 7-wicket demolition of New Zealand and a nerve-shredding double Super Over win against Afghanistan, Aiden Markram’s men are playing with a clarity and conviction that has eluded them in past tournaments. A win tomorrow mathematically guarantees them a spot in the Super 8s.
UAE, meanwhile, has been the giant-killer in waiting. Currently sitting third in the group with 2 points, they survived a scare against Canada and put up a spirited fight against the Kiwis. For Muhammad Waseem and his squad, this is more than just a match; it’s a rare opportunity to upstage a top-tier nation on the world’s biggest stage.
SA vs UAE, T20 World Cup 2026: Match Details
- Date and Time: February 18 (Wednesday); 11:00 am IST / 5:30 am GMT
- Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
SA vs UAE, Head-to-Head Record (T20Is)
Matches played: 0 | South Africa won: 0 | UAE won: 0
Arun Jaitley Stadium Pitch Report
For this clash, the surface at Arun Jaitley Stadium is likely to behave like a classic Delhi track, slow, gripping, and increasingly helpful for spinners as the game wears on. Early in the Powerplay, the pitch should appear reasonably flat, allowing batters to play their strokes with confidence. However, once the new ball softens, the surface is expected to hold up and stay a touch low, making timing far more challenging. Spin is set to play a decisive role through the middle overs, continuing a tournament pattern where slow bowlers have claimed a significant share of the wickets. Since this is a morning fixture, dew will not come into play — unlike night matches where chasing sides often benefit. Under these conditions, a total in the 155–165 range could prove more than competitive.
Squads
South Africa: Aiden Markram (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Jason Smith, George Linde, Anrich Nortje, Kwena Maphaka
UAE: Muhammad Waseem (captain), Alishan Sharafu, Aryansh Sharma, Dhruv Parashar, Haider Ali, Harshit Kaushik, Junaid Siddique, Mayank Kumar, Muhammad Arfan, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Zohaib, Rohid Khan, Sohaib Khan, Simranjeet Singh.
SA vs UAE, T20 World Cup 2026: Today’s Match Prediction
Case 1:
- South Africa wins the toss and bats first
- South Africa powerplay score: 50-60 (6 overs)
- South Africa total score: 195-205
Case 2:
- UAE wins the toss and bats first
- UAE powerplay score: 35-45 (6 overs)
- UAE total score: 165-175
Match result: Afghanistan to win the contest.
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