• Maharaj: Young Proteas want to win

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    Stand-in captain Keshav Maharaj believes an inexperienced Proteas T20I squad can give a good account of themselves against the Black Caps in New Zealand.

    South Africa will field a youthful side for the tour, which starts in Mount Maunganui on Sunday (8:15am SA time), with several senior players rested and five uncapped players included in the squad (Connor Esterhuizen, Dian Forrester, Jordan Hermann, Nqobani Mokoena and Prenelan Subrayen).

    Despite the inexperience, Maharaj says the group is eager to test themselves against a Black Caps team that crushed the Proteas by nine wickets in the T20 World Cup semi-finals before losing to co-hosts India in the final.

    “New Zealand are a really strong side, obviously coming off a really big high coming from India,” he said. “But I think with the squad that we have, there’s a lot of energy within the environment being a lot younger. So hopefully it will be a good, strong series. And fingers crossed we come on top.”

    MORE: Forrester ready to fire for Proteas

    While the tour provides opportunities for emerging players, Maharaj stressed that the Proteas are still aiming to win the series.

    “We also want to try and win with a really young side,” he said. “Shuks [coach Shukri Conrad] said the other day, what a story it would be to tell when you get on that flight to go back home and be like, ‘wow, that was amazing and special to be a part of’.”

    Sunday’s match will also be a milestone occasion for Maharaj, who is set to earn his 50th T20I cap for South Africa.

    “What’s it been, five years? I made my debut in Sri Lanka as captain and here I am in my 50th,” he said. “I’ve got the same buzz and energy, and I try and stay true to what I do.

    “I entered this environment 10 years ago, so I know what it was like to enter as a junior.

    “I’ve played against some amazing captains, but, you know, Faf [du Plessis] always was one that stood out for me in terms of the empathy and care.

    “And I try to emulate that style, not just as a captain, but just from a senior player within the environment, taking guys under my wing and basically just sort of being that father figure to them.”

    ALSO: Mokoena’s Proteas dream comes true

    New Zealand vs Proteas T20I series (all matches 8:15am SA time)
    Sunday, 15 March: 1st T20I, Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui
    Tuesday, 17 March: 2nd T20I, Seddon Park, Hamilton
    Friday, 20 March: 3rd T20I, Eden Park, Auckland
    Sunday, 22 March: 4th T20I, Sky Stadium, Wellington
    Wednesday, 25 March, 5th T20I, Hagley Oval, Christchurch

    Proteas T20I squad: Keshav Maharaj (c, Dolphins), Ottneil Baartman (Dolphins), Gerald Coetzee (Titans), Tony de Zorzi (Western Province), Connor Esterhuizen (Lions), Dian Forrester (Dragons), Jordan Hermann (Warriors), Rubin Hermann (Dragons), George Linde (Western Province), Nqobani Mokoena (Dolphins), Wiaan Mulder (Lions), Andile Simelane (Dolphins), Lutho Sipamla (Lions), Prenelan Subrayen (Dolphins), Jason Smith (Dolphins).

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    Simon Borchardt