Proteas have firepower to succeed at T20 World Cup in India, says SA20 boss Graeme Smith

Betway SA20 League Commissioner Graeme Smith believes the Proteas’ recent experience in India will stand them in good stead leading into the ICC T20 World Cup. 

The Proteas finished off last year with an extensive three-format tour to India, while the majority of the 15-player World Cup squad have also played a number of years in the IPL. 

“I think the exposure to the subcontinent now that players get is extremely different. You know, they spend an immense amount of time in the subcontinent through IPL or touring,” Smith said. 

“So, you know, the exposure to the conditions, certainly it's not foreign to any of these players. They've spent, I'd probably say years of their life now playing on the subcontinent. 

“When I look at the team, I think there's certainly, I would believe going to the World Cup that I would have an expectation that they were going to do really well.”

The former Proteas skipper feels the squad possesses enough ammunition with the likes of Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs and Dewald Brevis, but it will depend on how coach Shukri Conrad puts all the pieces together. 

“I think there's lots of firepower. There's match winners,” he said. “I think it's going to be interesting to see what combinations Shukri and team come up with going into the tournaments.

“I think if they can get those combinations right and some of the bowlers really do click, you know, because some grounds can be challenging to defend with the ball and then certainly if the wickets play flat, our bowlers are going to be tested. 

“So, I think, the bowling combinations are going to be interesting, but I believe that there's enough in that squad to go deep into the tournament.”

Smith also believes the Proteas have grown a core leadership group that will help captain Aiden Markram with dealing with the pressure of a T20 World Cup in cricket-crazed India. 

“I think as a captain, that it is vital to have other people that can play an influential leadership role. You know, to leave it just to one man, I think is just crazy,” he said.

“I mean, obviously, your captain needs to lead. He needs to do a lot of things. He's also got to focus on his own performance. 

“But building a group of players that can drive each other forward and have the experience, have the leadership around you certainly plays a huge role in helping build a very strong cricketing environment.

“And, you know, I think now you look at (Tristan) Stubbs just if you just take his exposure as a captain, he would have a totally different understanding of what a captain might go through now in terms of responsibility, press conferences, time management, all that sort of stuff. 

"So just his awareness and what he's gained in the last four or five weeks of what a captain has to sort of understand and deal with. I think it will benefit Aiden and the squad. And, you know, building a group of players that ultimately manage and drive each other forward and build an environment for success too, I think is huge.”