South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad is pretty much unhappy with the team being referrred as chokers ahead of the T20 World Cup semi-finals. The Proteas have been the only undefeated side in the marquee tournament thus far. Ahead of their semi-final, the SA head coach addressed an adverisment whch teased the former over their ability to choke at important situations.
SA unbothered about chokers’ tag
Speaking following SA’s win agains ZIM in their Super 8 fixture, coach Conrad claimed that pressure was always a part of the game and ridiculed the fact that South Africa were called chokers. SA have been unbeaten in the T20 World Cup 2026 thus far while NZ won 4 out of the 7 games that they have played so far, including one win the Super 8 stage while their first game against Pakistan was washed out and they defeated Sri Lanka by 61 runs. However, the road to the final looks rocky, simply because of NZ’s record against SA in the T20 World Cups in the past.
“There’s always pressure, it’s about what you do with that pressure and how you shift that pressure. As for the ‘C’ word (choker), there’s another one called ‘cupcakes’ that we have to throw in, don’t want to forget that,” South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad said.
For the record, New Zealad have never beaten South Africa in a T20 World Cup tie thus far.
“I don’t think it (pressure) will change anything. For us, it will be business as usual. We will start as favourites against New Zealand probably because we’re the only unbeaten side in the tournament. But I don’t know if that adds to the pressure. Playing the semifinal is pressure enough. Playing a top side is enough pressure,” Conrad concluded.
