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South Africa’s red-ball coach Shukri Conrad is not looking too far ahead of the team’s path to the 2023-25 ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final, but admitted that the headquarters schedule it was relatively easy compared to others teams.
South Africa secured their place in the WTC final for the first time with a thrilling two-wicket win over Pakistan in the first Test at Centurion on 29 December 2024. However, the structure of the South WTC cycle -africa caught everyone’s attention after their WTC final. 2025
South Africa coach Shukri Conrad unfazed by criticism of easy WTC 2025 Finals route
With just 12 Test matches on the calendar, none of South Africa’s red ball series extended beyond two matches, which in many cases helped them a lot to qualify for the WTC Finals 2025. The toughest challenges for the Proteas as a whole came against India at home and New Zealand away , but they navigated them without much trouble.
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But the rest of their WTC matches were against low-level teams like Bangladesh, West Indies and Pakistan, which gave the South African cricket team an easier path to reach the final. They even played their recent Test series against Sri Lanka at home, sweeping them 2-0, further strengthening their WTC finals chances ahead of the ongoing Test series against Pakistan.
Unlike other teams, the South African team did not face big powers like Australia and England or any daunting sub-continental tour, except a short series in Bangladesh. After qualifying for the 2025 WTC Final, some believe South Africa’s road to the summit clash lacked the level of challenge other teams faced, but Shukri Conrad was undeterred.
I’m not going to apologize: Shukri Conrad
The South African coach has insisted they have made the most of the opportunities in front of them, so there’s no apologizing for taking advantage of a favorable schedule. Upsetting the critics, Conrad insisted the Proteas deserve their place in the WTC final. The coach also said being an underdog sometimes makes things easier.
Shukri Conrad was quoted by The Roar: “We’re delighted to be at Lord’s next year. People overseas will shout that we’ve had an easy draw. Well, I’m not going to apologize for that. I think the best d “getting the results at home is that you play as a favorite. It’s easy to play as an underdog because you’re not expected to.”
Earlier, former England captain Michael Vaughan criticized the structure of the WTC, highlighting how the South African team had a much easier schedule compared to other teams. For example, England played 22 matches, almost double the number of Proteas, and faced heavy penalties for excessive fees and once again failed to reach the 2025 WTC Final.
They have reached the final without beating almost anyone: Michael Vaughan
According to The Roar, Michael Vaughan told Fox Cricket: “If you look at South Africa, they’ve got to the final without beating almost anyone. I don’t understand the table; I don’t understand the system we have.
“They’ve beaten Pakistan at home and Sri Lanka at home. I’m not against South Africa, but the system has allowed them to get to the final, and they’ve drawn 1-1 against India at home, and they’ve done that.” I’ve played in England or Australia, I just don’t like the system.”
