Proteas stand-in captain Aiden Markram feels the three-match ODI series against Afghanistan is the ideal preparation for next year’s ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan.
Markram will be leading the Proteas in the absence of regular captain Temba Bavuma, who has been ruled out of the opening clash in Sharjah due to illness.
The Proteas have already rested a number of regulars and have arrived in the desert sands of the United Arab Emirates with a fresh-looking squad eager to experience conditions that may await them in Pakistan.
“We feel like we are in a good space as a team,” Markram said yesterday. “We don’t need to repeat that we’re a growing team and exposing guys to the next level, which is fantastic. That’s where we’re at.
“It is really important. We don’t have many series left before the Champions Trophy. Each series is important to get us close enough to peaking at the right time. Fantastic opportunity for us as a team.
“It’s a nice little period to play ODI cricket leading up to the Champions Trophy. The conditions might be similar to this. Pretty typical Sharjah conditions we’re expecting, naturally on the lower side, especially compared to South Africa. Might be a bit slower as well. It might take a bit of turn. So it’s an important series to continue heading in the right direction.”
The Proteas have never before played Afghanistan outside of ICC tournaments, but Markram feels they have gathered sufficient intelligence over the years not to underestimate their hosts.
“They have just made a World Cup semi-final. Of course we’re going to take them seriously. They have world-class players in their team and conditions that will suit them,” said Markram.
“By no means are we expecting to rock up here and beat them 3-0. I don’t think cricket works like that at all. It is a big opportunity for us as a younger team. It is an exciting challenge to take on.”
The stand-in skipper insists the focus will be entirely on their own development as a squad, with no reference being made to the eight-wicket thumping handed out to the Afghans in the T20 World Cup earlier this year, especially with the number of rookies that are likely to feature for the Proteas over the course of the three-match series.
“I think if you look at the make-up of the teams it’s quite different to the World Cup. The format is also different. Fifty-over cricket, you have to work really hard to get a positive result. It will be by no means (easy) against a very good team in their own conditions,” he said.
“It’s huge for us as a white-ball squad to expose them to this level of cricket. It is exciting to get opportunities. A lot of excitement around having some fresh faces in the squad. Exciting opportunity they have earned.”
With Bavuma ruled out, it is expected that Reeza Hendricks could partner Tony de Zorzi at the top of the order to add a bit more experience to the starting line-up.
SQUADS FOR 1ST ODI IN SHARJAH
Proteas: Temba Bavuma (captain), Ottneil Baartman, Nandre Burger, Tony de Zorzi, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Nqaba Peter, Andile Simelane, Jason Smith, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne, Lizaad Williams.
*Bavuma has been ruled out of the first ODI through illness
Afghanistan: Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Rahmat Shah, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ikram Alikhil, Abdul Malik, Riaz Hassan, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Nangeyalia Kharote, Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Bilal Sami, Naveed Zadran, Fareed Ahmad.
Start: 2pm (SA time); TV: SuperSport