Dharamsala, Dec 13 (NationPress) The head coach of South Africa, Shukri Conrad, stated that any modifications in the Proteas’ preparation for the Men’s T20 World Cup will focus on player workload management rather than uncertainties regarding their roles. He emphasized that the team's strategy for the mega event is ‘pretty clear’.

In their recent 51-run victory over India in New Chandigarh, South Africa opted to rest several players, including Tristan Stubbs, Keshav Maharaj, and Anrich Nortje, as part of a rotation policy. To secure the series-levelling win, they introduced Reeza Hendricks, Ottniel Baartman, and George Linde into the playing eleven.

“While it may appear that we are somewhat indecisive due to the frequency of changes, these adjustments are not arbitrary. We have a clear vision of what our World Cup squad will look like,” Conrad remarked.

“Ultimately, it’s about managing our players. Some have been here since the Test Series, and with SA20 following this, it’s essential to manage player workloads while also ensuring everyone gets adequate playing time. We want to assess what works and what doesn’t. We are confident in our plans,” he added during a press briefing ahead of the third T20I scheduled for Sunday.

After concluding the T20I series, South African players will participate in SA20, which begins on Boxing Day and runs until January 25. Their focus will then shift to the Men's T20 World Cup, set for February 7 to March 8.

Conrad expressed that morale is high following the second T20I win, but acknowledged the need to adapt to the dewy conditions. “Winning is always uplifting, especially after the first match didn’t go our way,” he said.

“However, at grounds where scores are historically elevated, there’s a tendency to feel pressured to perform at a certain benchmark, which can lead to challenges.”

“We don’t have a specific batting target in mind, but we are confident in our overall capabilities. We prepared extensively, practicing with a wet ball during the ODIs. The groundwork has been laid,” he explained.

Conrad concluded by clarifying the batting order for T20I captain Aiden Markram. “Aiden is quite adaptable. We know who our opening batsman is, and he’s a left-hander (Quinton de Kock).”

“We will see how to pair that up. Aiden performed excellently last year during the IPL as an opener, having also batted at No. 3 and 4 in previous World Cups. I can assure you he won’t bat lower than No. 3,” he stated.