South Africa’s perfect seven-match winning streak at the T20 World Cup has elevated them to the status of tournament favourites, but coach Shukri Conrad has insisted that the added pressure will not be a deterrent.
Speaking after their on Sunday, Conrad came out defiantly about his side shedding the ‘choker’ tag that has long been associated with the Proteas, taking a jibe at India in the process too.
“There’s always pressure, it’s about what you do with that pressure and how you shift that pressure. As for the ‘C’ word (choker), there’s another one called ‘cupcakes’ that we have to throw in, don’t want to forget that,” Conrad told reporters at the Feroz Shah Kotla grounds.
AS IT HAPPENED |
The ‘cupcake’ jibe was in reference to an advertisement aired by the tournament’s official broadcaster before South Africa played India, showing a Saffer choking on a cupcake and then being handed a bottle of water, a play on the perpetual ‘choker’ tag labelled on the Proteas. South Africa summarily went on to hammer the hosts by 76 runs in , and the commercial died a death.
Throughout the tournament, the Proteas have been giving answers on the field to any manner of criticism or concern about their mental fortitude. Conrad insisted that they will be just fine in dealing with the pressure of starting as favourites in the semifinal against New Zealand in on Wednesday.
“I don’t think it (pressure) will change anything. For us, it will be business as usual. We will start as favourites against New Zealand probably because we’re the only unbeaten side in the tournament. But I don’t know if that adds to the pressure. Playing the semifinal is pressure enough. Playing a top side is pressure enough,” he said.
