‘Calm’ Proteas ready for Afghanistan

DAVID Miller hopes familiarity breeds success when the Proteas face off against Afghanistan in a crucial T20 World Cup clash in Ahmedabad today.

- ZAAHIER ADAMS.

Although the Proteas have only faced Afghanistan in three T20Is previously, which includes the Trinidad semifinal at the last T20 World Cup two years ago, both groups of players have come together quite frequently at the IPL and also the local Betway SA20.

Miller, for instance, shared some great memories with Rashid when they played together for the Gujarat Titans right here in Ahmedabad, which climaxed with them winning the IPL in the selfsame Narenda Modi Stadium in 2022.

Rashid, meanwhile, has captained MI Cape Town in the Betway SA20 for the past four seasons, leading the Newlands-based side that contained Proteas Ryan Rickelton, Corbin Bosch and Kagiso Rabada to the championship last year.

Miller and Mujeeb-ur-Rahman have also shared the same dressingroom at Paarl Royals for the past three seasons, while Proteas captain Aiden Markram gained some valuable insight into mystery spinner Noor Ahmad’s gameplans this past SA20 season together at Durban’s Super Giants.

"It's definitely a step up. I mean, Afghanistan, they’ve got some really good spinners and experienced players," Miller said.

"But look, we came into this World Cup not wanting to take things for granted at all in any game. A lot of us have played with them and against them for a number of years now. So, the guys have a good idea of what they do well.