Proteas vice-captain, Keshav Maharaj, revealed that the T20 squad was frustrated and in pain after the loss to the Netherlands earlier this month.

The Proteas are back at home after the embarrassing loss to the Netherlands in the T20 World Cup. The match has been marked as the worst performance of all time by a South African men’s team in any competition. 

The loss to the Netherlands brought a lot of pain and frustration to fans as South Africa once again failed to advance to the semifinals in the T20 World Cup. What made this World Cup exit even more painful was the fact that South Africa had a strong squad and were the favourites to make the knockouts after they beat India earlier in the tournament. 

Proteas vice-captain, Keshav Maharaj, told Cricket Fanatics Magazine that the players were just as hurt and confused by the loss to the Netherlands. 

“It’s going to take some time to get over something like that,” said Maharaj. 

“Last year we won four of five, although we didn’t qualify there were a lot of positives and we could make peace with everything. This year, having come so close, it did hurt to go down the way we did. The guys were really broken,” he added. 

Proteas all-rounder, Wayne Parnell, further explained how confusing it was that they lost to the Netherlands after having a good tournament up to that point. 

“It is bittersweet. If you ask me what happened in the game against the Netherlands, I’m still trying to figure that out,” said Parnell.

The Proteas have a Test tour to Australia in December and the all-format players will have to find a way to move on from the World Cup exit and focus on the Test series. 

Most importantly, South Africa has an opportunity to redeem themselves by winning the series in Australia.

“We have a Test series to look forward to. Hopefully, we can mend the scars of what transpired the last month,” said Maharaj who has been included in the Test squad to Australia.

Read: The National Selection Committee announced Proteas Test squad to tour Australia