South Africa captain Aiden Markram acknowledges that the USA team has proven their worth in the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup, no longer seen as a minor team. As the co-hosts of their first-ever Men’s T20 World Cup appearance, the USA has emerged as the tournament’s breakout stars. They have defeated Canada and Pakistan and gave India a tough competition, securing the second position in Group A and advancing to the Super Eight stage.

Now, they face a formidable South African side that topped Group D with victories in all four matches, despite some close calls against the Netherlands and Nepal.

“They’ve been really good. I think not just them but a lot of people still think of them as a smaller nation, but they’ve shown that they’re not a small team anymore. So, we’re going to have to be at our best game, and I’m excited for that challenge,” Aiden Markram stated.

ALSO READ: White House Applauds USA Cricket Team’s Historic T20 World Cup 2024 Performance

Aiden Markram also highlighted the novelty of facing the USA team and the unique conditions in Antigua. “It’s a team that we haven’t played much against, so I’m looking forward to that and the different conditions here in Antigua. We need to assess quickly and develop plans on the field that can hopefully work for us,” he added.

South Africa’s batting lineup has struggled in challenging conditions, particularly on the spin-friendly pitch in St Vincent. Markram is hopeful that his team can deliver a stronger performance with the bat during the Super Eights in the West Indies.

“We are still striving for that close-to-perfect game. Our bowlers have been really good throughout the competition and have potentially bailed us out of difficult situations. Conditions have been tough for us with the bat, but it’s a fresh start now,” said Aiden Markram.

ALSO READ: Pat Cummins Attracted By Silicon Valley’s Tech Opportunities To Participate In MLC

Markram is optimistic about the new conditions in the West Indies being more favorable for batting, offering the Proteas a chance to find form at a crucial stage in the tournament. “As a batting group, we have the opportunity to start fresh in hopefully more batting-friendly conditions and begin to peak at the right time in the competition,” he concluded.