Afghanistan will face cricket powerhouse South Africa in the first of three one-day international (ODI) fixtures at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in the UAE on Wednesday.

Afghanistan and South Africa have met five times before – twice in ODIs and three times in T20Is – and on all of those occasions, during various World Cups, South Africa have come out on top.

However, Afghanistan, who only received full member International Cricket Council (ICC) status in 2017, has beaten every Test-playing nation in white-ball cricket except India and South Africa.

South Africa’s Lungi Ngidi said Monday that for this reason, the Afghans cannot be underestimated.

“The opinion of a cricket team is purely based on what people think, (but) it’s not always the truth,” Ngidi said.

“Anyone’s opinion on what Afghanistan might play like, that doesn’t affect us because we’ve seen what they can do against other international teams.

“We’re not taking this series lightly. They have world-class cricketers and match winners, and on their day they can beat the best in the world.

“We’ve seen it happen, so I don’t think anyone should be looking at them as minnows. We definitely know what we’re in for.”

For Afghanistan, Rashid Khan has returned from an injury that kept him out of a one-off Test against New Zealand, which was rained out without a ball being bowled.

Iran and Portugal registered historic victories in their FIFA Futsal World Cup openers on Monday in Uzbekistan, while France came from behind to win and Morocco beat Tajikistan.

Results for Monday September 16:

Portugal 10-1 Panama
IR Iran 7-1 Venezuela
Tajikistan 2-4 Morocco
Guatemala 3-6 France

Salar Aghapour and Pany Varela on Monday bagged breathtaking goals as Iran and France hurtled out of the blocks at Uzbekistan 2024.

There was mixed fortunes for two teams making their FIFA Futsal World Cup debuts, with Tajikistan dazzling in defeat to Morocco and France turning in a tremendous last 20 to overcome Guatemala.

Portugal 10-1 Panama

Portugal’s goals were scored by Jaime Penaloza, Afonso Jesus (2), Bruno Coelho, Tomas Paco, Erick Mendonça, Andre Coelho (2), Kutchy Camala Sa, Pany Varela.

Panama’s only goal was scored by Alfonso Maquensi.

Player of the Match was Erick Mendonça of Portugal who said after the match “we’re very pleased with the performance. Panama are a strong side, champions of their region. We spoke about making a good start, and that was crucial.”

Panama player Alfonso Maquensi said: “We can take a lot of encouragement from our second-half performance. Portugal are the best team in the world.

“We scored one, we could have scored more. Unfortunately we made too many mistakes in the first half, but what we did in the second gives us confidence for the matches ahead.”

This was the first time Portugal netted 10 goals in a FIFA Futsal World Cup game, and equalled their best-ever win in the competition: a 9-0 reverse of the same opponents in 2016.

Portugal are the defending champions at this year’s tournament.

Iran 7-1 Venezuela

Iran also put on a spectacular performance to defeat Venezuela 7-1 in their match on Monday.

Goals were scored twice by Salar Aghapour, Mahdi Karimi, and Behrooz Azimi while Amirhossein Davoudi scored one goal.

Venezuela’s single goal was scored by Milton Francia.

Player of the Match was Iran’s Salar Aghapour.

Speaking after the match at Bukhara Universal Sports Complex, in Bukhara, Azimi said: “The first few minutes were difficult for us, but then we adjusted and started to play better.

“The coach said it would be important for us to take advantage of Venezuela's first mistake, and that’s what we did. Then the game opened up for us.”

“We knew we were playing against a very strong team and that we would have to take advantage of any chance we had.

“They are futsal powerhouses, but I also leave the court thinking that we could have done more. There is a bit of a bitter taste, but now we have to move ahead,” he said.

With teams fired up to take home this year’s trophy, fans across Afghanistan need not miss out on all the action. Ariana Television Network is the official broadcaster in the country and is screening matches live daily.

Futsal has continued to grow in global popularity over the past few decades with one source estimating 12 million players across the world play the game.

Due to its easy setup and enhanced accessibility futsal has become an essential resource for coaches aiming to develop players.

But futsal’s rules are intricate - especially those applicable to this year’s FIFA Futsal World Cup.

Here’s what you need to know.

A match lasts 40 minutes. That is, in fact, 40 minutes of the ball in play, because when the whistle blows – when, say, the ball goes out or a foul is called – the timekeeper stops the clock until play restarts.

The two 20-minute halves are split by a 15-minute half-time break. If a knockout-phase game is level after 40 minutes, two five-minute periods of extra-time will be played.

Teams

Uzbekistan 2024 squads consist of 14 players. Each team has five players – four out-court and one goalkeeper – on court simultaneously, unless a sending off has occurred.

Substitutions

Coaches can make unlimited substitutions. There is no limit to how many times a player can be substituted on and off.

Four-second rule

A goalkeeper must release the ball within four seconds while in his own half. If he doesn’t, an indirect free-kick will be awarded to the opposition team. Set-pieces – kick-ins, corners and free-kicks – must be taken within four seconds or the opposition team will be awarded an indirect free-kick.

Goalkeepers in possession

Once a goalkeeper has touched the ball in his own half, he is not permitted to touch it again inside his own half until the opposition have had possession.

Kick-ins

There are no throw-ins. When the ball goes out via the side-line, or for a corner, it must be kicked back in.

Accumulated fouls

When a team has made five fouls in one half, every subsequent foul will result in their opponents being awarded a free shot at goal, with no wall permitted in between, from the second penalty spot (10 metres out). If the foul occurred closer to goal, it can be taken from where it occurred. First-half fouls are wiped at half-time, but second-half fouls are carried into extra-time if it is required.

Red cards

Players are sent off for two yellow cards or a straight red. Their team must then play with only four players on the court until the opposition scores or for two minutes. If the opposition scores, or once two minutes is up if not, a replacement can be sent on. The sent-off player is not permitted to return to the game.

Flying goalkeepers

A flying goalkeeper is when an out-court player temporarily assumes the role of a goalkeeper. This is invariably done when a team is behind and trying to outnumber the opposition in attack. A flying goalkeeper must wear a goalkeeper’s jersey with his own number on the back.

Time-outs

Each head coach has one time-out, whereby play is stopped for 60 seconds for him to speak to his players, in each half. A head coach can only call a time-out when the ball goes out of play and his team will restart it. There are no time-outs in extra-time.

Penalty shootouts

If a knockout-phase game is level after extra-time, a penalty shootout will decide the outcome. Whichever team is leading after each has taken five penalties will go through. If it’s level after five penalties apiece, sudden death will ensue. Players who have withdrawn from the game injured or been sent off are not permitted to take penalties.

An outfield player is permitted to act as a goalkeeper during penalties. Teams are permitted to alternate their goalkeepers during the shootout.