PROTEAS TAKE ON THE WORLD AGAIN AT T20 WORLD CUP

THE 10th installment of the T20 World Cup kicks off in India on Saturday, with Pakistan facing the Netherlands at 7.30am in the opener.

With four other matches played over the weekend, coach Shukri Conrad’s Proteas only enter the fray on Monday when they face Canada in Group D which also includes Afghanistan, New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates.

After playing each other once, the two top teams advance to the Super Eights, which will be another group stage – two groups of four – before the top two advance to the semi-finals.

It’s a long road to the final for captain Aiden Markram and his manne, whose best performance at a World Cup in the shortest form of the game was at the last tournament when they finished runners-up to India in 2024.

After losing to the Indians again in a warmup match on Wednesday by 30 runs, despite the best efforts of Tristan Stubbs (45 not out), Ryan Rickelton (44) and Aiden Markram (38),  they could only get to 210/7 after India klapped their bowlers for 240/6 in their 20 overs.

South Africa will know they’ll have to pull up their socks if they want to win the country’s first World Cup.

Pool A comprises India, Namibia, Netherlands, Pakistan and USA, Pool B; Australia, Ireland, Oman, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe and Pool C; England, Italy, Nepal, Scotland and the West Indies.

WEEKEND’S T20 WORLD CUP FIXTURES:

Saturday: Pakistan v Netherlands (7.30am), West Indies v Scotland (11.30am), India v USA (3.30pm)

Sunday: New Zealand v Afghanistan (7.30am), England v Nepal (11.30am), Sri Lanka v Ireland (3.30pm)