T20 Cricket World Cup Semi-Final - South African coach Shukri Conrad confident Proteas “can go all the way”

Simon Lewis

Editor

Last updated: 02 Mar 2026

Simon Lewis 02 Mar 2026

Share this article

Proteas head coach Shukri Conrad is enjoying his side being tagged as favourites to lift the World Cup.
The Proteas are the only unbeaten team in the tournament.
The semi-finals are set for the 4th and 5th of March, with the final to be played on Sunday 8 March.

South Africa celebrate a wicket (Getty Images).

South Africa looking to secure back-to-back finals
World-class pace attack
Ready to end the World Cup pain

South Africa looking to secure back-to-back finals

South Africa are playing New Zealand in the first semi-final of the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup on Wednesday 5 March. The Proteas beat New Zealand in their group match earlier in the tournament and, having made it through the tournament undefeated (including a big win over favourites India), they are favourites to beat New Zealand and then triumph over the winner of the second semi-final, either England or India.

With home ground advantage India are the bookies’ favourites, but the Proteas are undoubtedly the form side of the tournament. The tag of favourites is not something that is worrying South Africa’s head coach, Shukri Conrad.

“We’re probably favourites because we’re the only unbeaten side left,” said Conrad at a press conference on Monday.

“The semi-final is pressure enough. Playing New Zealand is pressure enough. There’s no added pressure beyond that. I’m glad we’re favourites. As a South African team, you want to be able to handle that tag. It’s easy being the underdog – expectations aren’t as high. Now we’ve assumed it, and we’ll embrace it,” added Conrad.

World-class pace attack

South Africa’s pace attack has been key to the success of their campaign. While many teams have pushed spin to the fore, the Proteas have stuck with their traditional strength - world-class pace bowling.

“South African cricket has always had fast bowlers – guys who can bowl 145km/h-plus. We might not have left our shores with a mystery spinner, but we’ve got a ‘mystery seamer’ in Lungi Ngidi, who can operate in the powerplay and middle overs,” said Conrad.

The coach added that Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen have made an impact through taking wickets.

“That’s how we’ve fashioned our attack – to create wicket-taking options. And at the death, we’ve nailed our yorkers and change-ups.”

Ready to end the World Cup pain

Having been branded World Cup chokers for the past 33 years, Conrad is excited about his side’s chances, pointing out that they’ve done the hard work to put themselves in a position to challenge for the title.

“If you keep making semi-finals and finals, eventually you’ll win one. If you don’t make them, you can’t win anything. Right now, we’ve given ourselves a 25% chance. Hopefully, by Wednesday night, that becomes 50%,” added Conrad.

“We’ll need a bit of luck along the way. But if we keep doing what we’re doing, hopefully we can go all the way.”

Simon is a talented sports writer in South Africa with a strong focus on cricket having played first-team level for UCT, including playing at two Universities Weeks.

From a young age Simon was an avid reader of cricket magazines and books, and went on to be Editor of The Googly, CricketScene SA and SA Cricket, in addition to being a Features Writer on SA Sports Illustrated.

He has interviewed most of South Africa's premier cricketers and was the first writer to interview a teenaged Jacques Kallis.

Simon has also written about English and local football, rugby and cricket, in addition to major international tennis and golf stars and competitions.

You can follow more from Simon at Muckrack, X and LinkedIn.