/wion/media/agency_attachments/2024/12/26/2024-12-26t112006978z-wion-white-logo-for-website-2-1.png){kind=logo}
/wion/media/agency_attachments/2024/12/13/2024-12-13t071548098z-wionlogo.webp)
/wion/media/member_avatars/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/2023/03/14/338691-aditya-pimpale.jpeg)
/wion/media/post_attachments/files/2024/06/27/440322-t20-world-cup-2024-aiden-markram-backs-south-africa-in-final-says-we-can-compete-with-the-best.png)
Trinidad
South Africa cricket team will have a day with destiny on Saturday (June 29) as they will take the field in their maiden World Cup final 32 years after returning to cricket in 1992. After beating Afghanistan in a one-sided contest on Thursday (June 27), South Africa will head to the final with the heads held high as they are still unbeaten in the T20 World Cup 2024. According to captain Aiden Markram, his side is ready for any challenge and feels his side can lift the World Cup on Saturday where they will face either India or England.
Markram ready for the challenge
"It's obviously a really nice feeling, really good feeling," Markram said after his team crushed Afghanistan.
"This team's been together for a long time now as a white ball group, both formats, and it's nice for us to get to a final. We feel and we believe that we can compete with the best in the world and we can win trophies. And it's nice for us to now have that opportunity and make it into a final," he added.
South Africa beat Afghanistan in the semifinal of the T20 World Cup where they bowled out their Asian side for 56 runs before registering a nine-wicket win. According to Markram his side has all the ingredients to succeed and beat either England or India in the final. He also spoke on his experience from the 2014 semifinal where South Africa lost to India.
ALSO READ | Ind vs Eng, T20 WC 2024 semifinal: What happened during previous India vs England face-off?
"You get a little bit of confidence and a little bit of belief knowing you have done it on a certain level before. I don't think it's the exact same here at men's cricket but there are similar pressures that you have to deal with being in a final and we would have experienced that in 2014," said Markram.
The Proteas will square off against India or England in Saturday’s final as they search for their maiden World Cup crown. South Africa have lost in the semifinal on multiple occasions in different World Cup tournaments including T20 and ODI formats.