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Ring-rusty South Africa begin march on 2023 World Cup
JOHANNESBURG, April 1, 2021 (BSS/AFP) – South Africa return to one-day
international cricket for the first time in a year against Pakistan from
Friday with a history-making new captain at the helm and their sights set on
the 2023 World Cup.
The Proteas have not played an ODI since completing a 3-0 home series win
against Australia in March 2020.
Following that series, South Africa went to India but the tour was aborted
because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
A planned series against England last December was then postponed after two
members of the touring party tested positive for coronavirus – results which
later were declared as false positives.
As a result, South Africa have yet to secure their first points in the
World Cup Super League which decides which seven teams join hosts India as
automatic qualifiers for the 2023 World Cup.
The Proteas and the Netherlands are the only teams who have yet to play a
match in the 13-team league.
Seven teams already have three or more wins, so South Africa, under new
captain Temba Bavuma, will be seeking to make up ground when they they play
Pakistan at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Friday in the first of three one-
day internationals.
South Africa will be at full strength for the first two matches but will
be without five leading players – Quinton de Kock, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi
Ngidi, David Miller and Anrich Nortje – for the third match because of Indian
Premier League commitments.
The quintet will also miss four Twenty20 internationals which follow the
one-day series.
The one-day and T20 matches will be split between Centurion and
Johannesburg, with the teams staying in a bio-secure location convenient to
both venues.
April is unusually late for cricket matches to be played in South Africa.
Shorter days and autumnal weather could affect conditions at two grounds
where batsmen usually thrive on hard, true pitches.
Bavuma said his only experience of playing in April was in a domestic T20
competition.
“It seemed to suit seam bowling a bit more, with the ball swinging,” said
Bavuma, his country’s first black African skipper.
“But the wickets still become favourable for batting, even though the
challenge is a bit more with the seam.”
Pakistan coach Misbah-ul-Haq said on arrival that he believed the
conditions at both venues would suit his fast bowlers and stroke-playing
batsmen.
The series will be played against the backdrop of continued uncertainty
over the administration of the game in South Africa.
Sports minister Nathi Mthethwa issued an ultimatum on Tuesday to Cricket
South Africa’s members council, consisting of provincial presidents, to
accept the principle of a new board containing a majority of independent
directors.
Mthethwa gave the council until April 6 to reach an agreement with an
interim board, which is charged with establishing a new structure.
He threatened government intervention unless an agreement was reached,
which could jeopardise Cricket South Africa’s standing with the International
Cricket Council.
South African batsman Aiden Markram said on Wednesday that the players
tried to stay away from administrative matters but added: “We trust that the
people who are making the decisions will do so for the betterment of the
game.”
ODI schedule:
April 2, Centurion
April 4, Johannesburg
April 7, Centurion
BSS/AFP/FI/ 0800 hrs