‘It is going to be a hard grind to qualify for World Cup 2023’ – Heinrich Klaasen on South Africa’s chances
When South Africa won the first ODI against India by nine runs, there would have been a huge sigh of relief as not only did they beat India on home turf and manage to get a vital 1-0 lead over India, but also bagged crucial ODI Super League points.
The Proteas made a roaring comeback with the bat in the 1st ODI when David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen stitched a 139-run stand from 106 balls to propel South Africa to 249/4 from their 50 overs. The 31-year-old batter said that South Africa are focusing on the controllable, at the moment, and are trying their best to get in the race to qualify for the World Cup next year.
South Africa were languishing at the 11th spot in the 13-team Cricket World Cup Super League with just 4 wins from 13 matches before the start of the ODI series against India.
When South Africa relinquished the ODI series against Australia that was set to take place in January next year, they had to lose out on all 30 ODI World Cup Super League points that were on offer.
Our goal at the moment is the 20-20 World Cup: Klaasen
Even if South Africa emerge victorious in all their remaining seven Super League matches, they will not have enough points against their name to take part in the World Cup next year in India. Many of the players from South Africa’s first eleven are playing in the ODI series against India.
“To qualify for next year’s World Cup is going to be really hard but we are definitely going to try. Our goal at this moment is the 20-20 World Cup coming up in a couple of days’ time,” Klaasen said after South Africa’s win in Lucknow.
“We are not too worried about other things we can’t control at this moment. Every time we get onto the field wearing the South African jersey, we want to win the game. We are just taking step by step, game by game at this moment,” Klaasen concluded.
