South Africa have qualified for the final of the World Test Championship for the first time after a Test series win against Pakistan. The Proteas were first to qualify for the final at Lords after winning the first Test against Pakistan by two wickets in Centurion. Speaking on this, South African spinner Keshav Maharaj said that his team deserves to win the WTC final as they have played good cricket in the last two years. However, it won’t be an easy task for the Proteas as they will face defending champions Australia in the title clash at Lords from June 11 to 15.
Keshav Maharaj said that not many people gave South Africa a chance to make it into the WTC final, but the Proteas showed great courage and played as a unit. “If you look at our Test unit, not many people would have afforded us the opportunity of making the final, but we've been phenomenal from a consistency point of view, from a cricket perspective,” Maharaj was quoted as saying by India Today.
Hopefully, this is our year: Keshav Maharaj
South Africa have been playing good cricket in the ICC event in the last few years. They made it into the semi-final of the 2023 ODI World Cup and qualified for the final for the first time in the 2024 T20 World Cup. However, the Proteas ended up losing on both occasions and the wait for an ICC trophy continued. However, Keshav Maharaj hopeful that South Africa can finally cross the finishing line this time and end lifting the Test mace at Lords in June.
“The togetherness on the field and the camaraderie and spirit you see within the dressing room propelled us to get there. Hopefully, this is our year, and we go one better than we've done previously and raise a very prestigious title in the Test format,” Keshav Maharaj said.
“It's the hardest format of the game. It's most challenging physically, mentally and emotionally. As a unit, the cricket we have played, we deserve to go and raise a trophy,” he further added.
