The chokers tag has stuck with South Africa who have consistently found a way to lose high-pressure matches at the World Cup. The runners-up of previous edition are now ready to face New Zealand in the semifinal.
South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad has said that his team enjoyed the much-talked about ‘cupcake’ promo that was aired ahead of their massive win over India in the Super 8s. When asked about the pressure of the C word implying chokers, Conrad replied with another C word to invoke the cupcake ad.
South Africa have not been able to win a World Cup despite boasting of strong teams over the years. They have consistently found a way to lose high-pressure matches and the latest example of that came at the 2024 T20 World Cup where the Proteas lost the final to India.
Conrad says pressure is always there
South Africa have won their four group games and three Super 8 games to remain the only unbeaten side at the 2026 T20 World Cup. Conrad said that such a big tournament always brings pressure but it is about handling it well.
“There’s always pressure. I think it’s what you do with that pressure and how you shift the pressure. As for the C word, I think there’s another one for it, cupcakes. I thought we kind of enjoyed that,” said Conrad following the win over Zimbabwe in their final Super Eights game.
“But no, there’s always pressure, and it’s really about embracing that pressure. And we don’t do things any differently. We’re going to prepare exactly the same way for New Zealand.”
South Africa face New Zealand in the semifinal of the tournament where they start as favourites.
“Whether we start as favourites, probably because we’re the only unbeaten side in the competition. But I don’t know if that adds to the pressure. I think the semi-final is pressure enough.
“Playing a top side New Zealand is pressure enough. So there’s no added pressure and I’m glad that we’re favourites because I always felt that as a South African team, you want to be able to play as a favourite because it’s easy being an underdog.”
“And yeah, hopefully that will give us the result on Wednesday and then on to our home ground in Ahmedabad (for the final),” said Conrad in another witty reference to Ahmedabad where they have played majority of the games thus far.
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