South Africa will take on United Arab Emirates in Match 34 of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 on February 18 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. The match will begin at 11:00 AM IST, with the toss scheduled for 10:30 AM.
This is the final league match of Group D. South Africa have already secured their place in the Super 8 after winning all three of their matches so far. With six points and a strong net run rate, they will be looking to maintain their unbeaten record and carry momentum into the next round.
UAE, on the other hand, are already out of the qualification race. With one win and two losses, they will aim to finish their campaign on a positive note and challenge one of the tournament’s strongest teams.
Match Details
| Match | South Africa vs UAE, Match 34 |
|---|---|
| Tournament | ICC T20 World Cup 2026 |
| Date | 18 February 2026 |
| Time | 11:00 AM IST (Toss: 10:30 AM) |
| Venue | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi |
| Live Streaming | JioHotstar (App & Website) |
| TV Broadcast | Star Sports Network |
Group D Situation
South Africa have been one of the most consistent teams in the tournament, registering wins over Canada, Afghanistan and New Zealand. Their balanced squad and strong bowling attack have played a key role in their success.
UAE showed fighting spirit during the tournament, including a win against Canada, but defeats in other matches ended their Super 8 hopes. This match gives them a chance to test themselves against a top-tier side and gain valuable experience.
Also see: SA vs UAE Toss Prediction Match 34th T20 World Cup 2026
Head-to-Head Record (T20Is)
| Matches | South Africa Won | UAE Won |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 |
This will be the first-ever T20I meeting between South Africa and UAE. While there is no past history, South Africa’s experience and depth make them clear favourites.
SA vs UAE Pitch Report Today Match
The Delhi surface has offered a balanced contest between bat and ball in morning matches. The pitch is generally flat with good bounce, but it can be slightly two-paced, making stroke play challenging at times.
Pacers may get some movement early, while spinners are likely to play an important role during the middle overs. The average first-innings score in day games has been around 155–165, and a total of 170 or more could be competitive.
Since this is a morning game, dew is not expected to be a factor. Teams winning the toss may prefer to bat first and put pressure on the opposition.
Also see: SA vs UAE Dream11 Prediction Today Match 34th
SA vs UAE Probable Playing XI
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.
Impact option: George Linde / Jason Smith
UAE
Aryansh Sharma (wk), Muhammad Waseem (c), Alishan Sharafu, Sohaib Khan, Syed Haider, Harshit Kaushik, Muhammad Irfan, Haider Ali, Simranjeet Singh, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Jawadullah.
Impact option: Muhammad Farooq
Players to Watch
South Africa:
Aiden Markram’s leadership and batting, Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi with the new ball, Keshav Maharaj’s spin control, and Tristan Stubbs’ finishing ability.
UAE:
Captain Muhammad Waseem’s top-order batting, Alishan Sharafu’s form, and Junaid Siddique’s pace attack will be key for UAE.
Key Match Factors
- A first-innings score of 170+ could be match-winning.
- Early wickets will be important on the slightly slow surface.
- Spinners are expected to play a major role in controlling the middle overs.
Match Prediction
South Africa enter the contest as strong favourites due to their unbeaten form, experienced lineup and balanced bowling attack. Their pace-spin combination and batting depth give them a clear advantage.
UAE will need a disciplined bowling effort and a strong batting performance to stay competitive. If they manage early breakthroughs, they could make the game interesting.
However, if South Africa post a total around 170 or more, they are likely to secure another win and finish the group stage unbeaten in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.
