T20 World Cup | For South Africa, the real challenge starts in the Super Eight stage

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South Africa's subordinate    South Africa advisor   Albie Morkel (left), batters David Miller (centre) and Tristan Stubbs (right) during a signifier    league   connected  the eve of ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, cricket lucifer  betwixt  South Africa and United Arab Emirates, astatine  Arun Jaitley Stadium successful  New Delhi connected  February 17, 2026.

South Africa's subordinate South Africa advisor Albie Morkel (left), batters David Miller (centre) and Tristan Stubbs (right) during a signifier league connected the eve of ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, cricket lucifer betwixt South Africa and United Arab Emirates, astatine Arun Jaitley Stadium successful New Delhi connected February 17, 2026. | Photo Credit: Shiv Kumar Pushpakar

Three matches. Three wins. So far, truthful bully for South Africa.

At the commencement of the T20 World Cup, determination was statement that Aiden Markram and Co. were successful the toughest of the 4 groups. Placed alongside New Zealand, Afghanistan, the United Arab Emirates and Canada successful Group D, advancing to the Super Eight signifier from this excavation wasn’t going to beryllium straightforward.

It hasn’t been, but the Proteas person emerged unscathed. While wins against Canada and New Zealand were emphatic, the crippled against Afghanistan was decided by the barest of margins arsenic the runner-up of the erstwhile variation scraped done aft 2 Super Overs. Having travel done that nerve-wracking contention successful Ahmedabad, South Africa shouldn’t interruption sweat against the UAE astatine the Arun Jaitley Stadium present connected Wednesday. A triumph volition guarantee a cleanable grounds going into the adjacent phase.

But the Rainbow Nation, fixed the value of past successful ICC events, volition beryllium judged connected however it fares successful the second fractional of this tournament. It did shed immoderate of that baggage past twelvemonth erstwhile Tamba Bavuma’s squad bushed Australia successful the World Test Championship last astatine Lord’s. Will Markram’s men beryllium unfazed this time?

Albie Morkel, who is present arsenic South Africa’s specializer consultant, exuded confidence.

“The World Cup truly starts now, adjacent though we had a pugnacious group. Now we look India, perchance Australia oregon Zimbabwe, and West Indies. There volition beryllium much unit successful these games arsenic you determination person towards the playoffs,” Albie said connected Tuesday.

“But I consciousness we’ve got a precise experienced group. Bowlers and batters person been exposed to that whether successful the IPL oregon different leagues. International cricket is simply a small spot different, but guys tin grip that pressure. I deliberation they volition thrive wherever there’s a spot much unit connected the games. We are not excessively worried.”

Published - February 18, 2026 02:58 americium IST

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