5 reasons why South Africa can win the World T20
From the time South Africa were readmitted into cricket in the early nineties, one thing has remained constant they have been one of the favourites for every global tournament. It is strange that they have only won only one knock-out match inthe history of theODI World Cup (in 2015) and have a bare cupboard as far as global titles are concerned.Yet, they continue to be the favourites, a fact that demonstrates how they have been crickets perennial underachievers in global tournaments. As we go closer to the 2016 T20 World Cup, South Africa once again arrive as one of the frontrunners, placed at No.3 in the ICC Twenty20 Rankings on a table where the top 8 teams are separated by just 12 rating points.South Africa made it to the semi-final of the 2015 ODI World Cup, winning their first ever knockout game in the 50 over format, a jinx that has haunted them since 1992. They will be a more confident bunch with a generation of cricketers mostly free of those tormenting burdens of defeat.T20 is also a different ball-game, a short format that suits South Africas style of high quality, fast-paced cricket.We look at 5 reasons why South Africa can finally win something major in the cricketing world.5 different teams (India, Pakistan, England, West Indies, Sri Lanka) have won the prestigious tournament so far and it could finally be South Africas time.
#5 The easier pool
Although cricket is an unpredictable game, South Africa enjoy the rub of the green. South Africa have a good chance of triumphing over the inexperience from Sri Lanka and a West Indies side that hasn’t played much T20 cricket cohesively as a team of late, while England, after the ongoing T20 series, will not be an unfamiliar proposition.
The other group, Group 2, is probably the group of death with India, Australia, New Zealand and Pakistan – all top T20 sides with the penchant for attacking cricket and great track records.
South Africa will have to deal with the qualifier from Group B, which means the other group, Group 2 gets Bangladesh or Ireland from Group A qualifiers, both superior cricketing countries to the likes of Zimbabwe and Afghanistan who are likely to win in Group B qualifiers.