I’m not jinxing it: This is finally the Proteas’ year

COMMENT

When it rains, it pours is a phrase often used by sports teams when things are not going their way. But in 2025, adversity has only brought good luck to the Proteas at the ICC Champions Trophy.

Even before they reached Pakistan, the South Africans were dealing with injuries to a series of fast bowlers. First Anrich Nortjé was ruled out. Then, Gerald Coetzee followed. It became almost comical when Ottniel Baartman also wasn’t able to make it, not to mention Lizaad Williams and Nandré Burger.

In fact, coach Rob Walter and his team had lost a home ODI series 3-0 to Pakistan, and they followed it up with defeats to New Zealand in Lahore and Pakistan in Karachi in two Champions Trophy warm-up games – despite scoring over 300 runs in both encounters.

But then the Proteas tide started to turn. They smashed 315/6 against a spin-heavy Afghanistan attack in their Champions Trophy opener – despite the surprise absence of the injured Heinrich Klaasen – and dismissed them for just 208 on the National Stadium ‘road’ of a pitch in Karachi.

It was a real pity that rain washed out their next clash against Australia in Rawalpindi, but perhaps this time, those were showers of blessings, as we all know the heartache and pain that the Aussies have caused the South Africans over the years.

The Proteas’ pressure, though, was lessened quite a bit for their England clash as they were virtually through to the semi-finals already.

Nevertheless, they thrashed Jos Buttler’s team by seven wickets, with Marco Jansen to the fore with three wickets and an unbelievable catch to get rid of Harry Brook.

Not even a Jofra Archer two-wicket burst early on could derail the South Africans’ 180-run chase, and Rassie van der Dussen (72 not out) and Klaasen (64) steadied the ship to set up a comfortable victory.

But the hard yards for the Proteas didn’t end there. Due to the special treatment that India are receiving by being based in Dubai for the entire tournament, SA and New Zealand had to travel to the UAE in case they have to face the Indians in Tuesday’s semi-final.

As it worked out, Australia had to face India instead, so the Proteas and the Black Caps had to travel to Lahore for Wednesday’s semi-final (11am SA time start).

Klaasen said that it was “just a crazy 18 hours”, adding that “it was not ideal for the bodies”.

But in the helter-skelter situation was a small silver lining for the South Africans, as they actually had a slightly better travel schedule than New Zealand, and Klaasen felt they would be better rested than the Kiwis for Wednesday.

The madness wasn’t over for the Proteas, though. Early on Tuesday, they announced that Western Province all-rounder George Linde would be travelling to Lahore as a reserve, due to Aiden Markram’s hamstring injury he sustained against England.

Now, having endured all of that from before their Champions Trophy campaign had even begun, are the cricket gods finally smiling on the Proteas?

I wanted nothing more than to see captain Temba Bavuma and his team having to travel back to Dubai to take on India in Sunday’s final, and now that is happening after the Indians beat Australia by four wickets in the first semi-final on Tuesday.

So, imagine if the Proteas could avenge their controversial 2024 T20 World Cup final defeat to the Indians in Barbados?

They will beat New Zealand, and one thing is clear to me – and I’m not jinxing it: this is finally the Proteas’ year ...

* Ashfak Mohamed is the Deputy Sports Editor at Independent Media.