Even though the stars seem to be aligning for batters in the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan, the Proteas batsmen don't intend to be complacent in their training.
If anything, South Africa’s best batters will want to work harder and seize the opportunity they’ve been presented with, Keshav Maharaj said on Wednesday.
The 34-year-old described the Proteas' training sessions in Pakistan as intense as they come, as they prepare for their first match in Group B against Afghanistan on Friday.
“I think they are quite happy with the conditions but they understand it's not just walking up and scoring runs; there is still a process and method” Maharaj said.
“I think when wickets are in your favour, you train that much harder because you want to make the most of the opportunity you are presented with. So, the guys have been working really hard.
“It was nice for everyone to get a little bit of a hit the other night and see the guys going through their process and getting ready for this major event. But I don’t think there’s any form of complacency from a batting point even though conditions are deemed to be in the batters' favour.
“I wish you could watch us train; then you would see the intensity the guys are going through just to make sure their skill sets are in place,” Maharaj added.
Even though the Proteas surpassed 300 runs in both matches in the recent tri-nation series against Pakistan and New Zealand, the green and gold lost both games and were knocked out of the series. Prior to that, Pakistan outplayed the Proteas in South Africa and won an ODI series.
Maharaj said their ODI form is a statistic that does not capture the entire picture, backing his faith in the Proteas line-up.
“If you look at the teams that were played during those times, it was obviously rotation-based policy. I don’t think we were a full team for any of the prior series, so we don’t look too much into that. We know that once we come to these major events, what’s at stake and how we can turn up as a unit.”
“I think the brilliant part of this squad is that a lot of us have been playing together since 2017 and 2018, so that experience we can draw upon from each other is something that propels us through these tournaments.”
Pace on Pakistan's pitches has been known to work better than spin on occasion, leaving a void in the Proteas line-up due to injuries affecting its fast bowlers.
However, the lack of usual pace on the roster also provides an opportunity, according to Maharaj.
“I take the opportunity in it. Obviously, it is a tough one with our fast bowlers going down, but it's another opportunity for me to bowl more overs. I love bowling, so it gives you more chances to get a wicket. It is nice to carry the load on your shoulders from time to time.”
Both international players and local fans will have an opportunity to enjoy a game of cricket in Pakistan for the first time since 2009, following a terror attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore. Since the attack, there have not been any major cricket matches in Pakistan. The Champions Trophy will be the first time they host a major tournament since co-hosting the 1996 World Cup with India and Sri Lanka.
Maharaj said Pakistan was buzzing with Champions Trophy fever.
“When you get off a flight and you walk into Pakistan, you are welcomed with open arms,” said Maharaj.
“It is one of the best places from a hospitality point of view to come and experience. There is a real buzz and energy around the Champions Trophy because it’s huge for Pakistan cricket if this event is a success. You can see all the effort the guys put in.
“The other night we played a warm-up game, and people were still working on the stadiums at midnight to make sure it was in order. We got to see the aeroplanes fly over us, and that was a real experience for some of us,” Maharaj concluded.