Under fire South Africans wary of visiting India

CAPETOWN: With a demoralising defeat to England in the recent Test series, South African cricket is at crossroads.

While the upcoming series against Bangladesh wouldn’t really test them, the big one after that is worrying the Proteas. Both the SA captain Faf du Plessis and senior batsman Hashim Amla have conceded that the India-South Africa series in January and February will allow India their best chance to win in South Africa.

Hashim Amla, who leads Durban Qalandars in the SA T20 Global league, felt that South Africa are a young team and in re-building stage. Amla, the only triple-centurion for SA in Tests, told HT: “It was disappointing the way we fared in England. But we need to understand that South Africa is a young side and in a rebuilding stage. It would be interesting to see how the South Africa T20 Global League pans out. It would be ideal to play in such a league ahead of an important series like against India. The Test series against Bangladesh in September will help us get in the groove.”

Having played two seasons for Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League (IPL), Amla has gathered a lot experience of playing against Indian cricketers and has been a prolific run-getter in the T20 league.

Faf du Plessis is also wary of India’s surge in international cricket. “India have been winning a lot of matches on foreign soil in the recent past. They have started to make that curve of being one of the best Test teams in the world. There was a time when South Africa would be unbeatable at home but I think India would be a tough team to beat even for us.”

Faf picks India captain Virat Kohli as the biggest threat for SA. “Virat Kohli is an aggressive campaigner who leads by example. He sets high standards in all departments. Controlling him will be the key,” said Faf, who would be leading the Stellenbosch-based team in the T20 Global League.

“It’s amazing for our cricket, because players don’t need to look outside. They will be taken care of financially, so this will hopefully go a long way towards keeping them happy. South Africa got a bit late in coming up with its own T20 league,” Faf said.

Amla and Faf will be part of the World XI side that plays three T20s in Pakistan in September. Faf will lead the team.”