ICC T20 WORLD CUP 2021

October 29, 2021

Keshav Maharaj

Sharjah Stadium

South Africa

Pre Match Media Conference

Q. Good two wickets for you in the last game. I wanted to know what you think we can expect from the surface, and how do you think it's going to fare tomorrow for the bowlers especially?

KESHAV MAHARAJ: Thanks. It looks like quite a good surface, just maybe a bit low from what we've seen in the game that's currently just ended, the West Indies and Bangladesh game.

Having said that, we are not sure if we are on a fresh wicket or used wicket come tomorrow. I think the boys must just make sure that we execute our lines and lengths and assess conditions very quickly and adapt accordingly.

Q. Has this been the toughest week or one of the toughest weeks in your career, and how is the team now feeling after the whole directive issue/Quinton saga?

KESHAV MAHARAJ: Yeah, it's obviously been a tough week, but I think the boys are mature enough and adult enough to sort of adapt to the situation. I think the spirits were really high at training today. There's that buzz and that drive that's back into the team after quite a long two days. But yeah, I think the boys are in good stead, and our focus is back on the cricket for now.

Q. You're one of the leaders in the team; is there kind of a sense that the hardship of the last week has kind of brought the team together a bit more? It's kind of that saying that what doesn't kill you makes you stronger; are you guys feeling that you can pretty much handle anything these days?

KESHAV MAHARAJ: Yeah, definitely. I think you sort of summed it up perfectly. I think we drew a lot of inspiration from the way we've reacted in the past to various situations thrown at us, and I think this has just made us bond and gel even stronger. You'll probably see a lot more energy than you have seen in these last two games, which it's hard to believe in terms of topping up, especially the way we started.

Yes, I think it has brought us together. Like I said previously, the boys are mature enough and adult enough to handle situations and will use that to exude more energy on the field and through performance, as well.

Q. On a normal week, this week has obviously been abnormal for a lot of reasons. On a normal week, Quinton de Kock would be at the top of the batting order. In terms of what transpired and the repair work that happened thereafter, are you expecting him to slide straight back into the team and lead this team in the batting department?

KESHAV MAHARAJ: Yeah, obviously that's down to the selectors in terms of whether he starts or not tomorrow, but I know that if he does get the opportunity, he'll definitely slot back into the team. A person of his calibre, we know what Quinny can do with the bat, and he puts match-winning knocks on. We saw that in Sri Lanka where he was Player of the Series.

Yeah, if he does get the opportunity tomorrow, I'm sure he will start straight back into the opening role.

Q. We've just had Michael Holding give the closing address at the SJN, and I was just wondering whether any of the members of the squad have really spoken, whether it's during the rounds of -- you wouldn't have watched it I don't think, but if kind of the message that he's been giving has come up in conversation.

KESHAV MAHARAJ: Unfortunately we didn't get a chance to. We just came back from training not so long ago. So no, I never got the opportunity to hear Michael Holding's comments on the SJN.

Q. It's probably unfair to ask you this question, but it's a cricket question. With regards to the batting, a guy like Reeza that did well against the West Indies, as well, it seems like you guys have a lot of -- especially if Quinton is back, a lot of top order batsmen that's really doing well, especially with Rassie batting at 3 now. Has there been discussions around how to sort of get the order, the batting order in the best possible way for you guys to execute your game plan and get a good total?

KESHAV MAHARAJ: Yeah, I think the good thing about our team is that most batters can bat in various positions, which gives us the depth that we need when having a lot of top order batters.

I think come tomorrow we'll have a little bit of a shuffle in the batting lineup to sort of slot in our batters as such. But like I said, I think everyone is adaptable to batting any position at this given time and everyone is hitting the ball really nicely. I'm sure it wouldn't be too much of an unsettlement of the batting order.

Q. Unless I'm mistaken, you've taken the knee from the start, and I wondered what you thought about players who haven't taken the knee? The team claim often and loudly that you represent the country as a whole. Has there been a concern that there's been this image of disharmony within the camp?

KESHAV MAHARAJ: No, not at all. I think we've had endless chats about this as a team and we respect everyone's decisions and views and opinions. For us it's not a big thing. We know everyone supports one another, and I think that's the way forward in this team. I think respect is one of our pillars, and I think that's where we all stand, too.

Q. Generally wicket keepers and spinners are fairly good mates; they get along, they chat quite a bit. Have you knocked on Quinton's door this week and just checked in with him and found out how he's doing?

KESHAV MAHARAJ: I don't have to knock on his door. We're always in the team room together and chatting and having dinner together. Yeah, I think he's in a good space. Obviously it's been a tough week for him, but he's a very mature character despite what people may think. Quinny is Quinny, and we love having him in the team. Yeah, he's in a good space. We're still having dinner tonight after this Zoom call. But he's all good.

Q. I think anyone who's interested in South African cricket has had a traumatic week. I just wondered, do you hope that the way the thing has unfolded and Quinton's statement and all the rest of it that people who are not in the dressing room and not at the culture camp maybe have a bit better idea of the conversations you guys are having among yourselves?

KESHAV MAHARAJ: Like I said in the previous question, I think we speak about our pillars as a team and our values, and I think we've spoken at length with that, and we know we respect everyone's beliefs.

No one is a racist within our team. We all support one another and respect everyone's cultural, religious and spiritual differences. I for one am a very religious person, so I know you've got to be accepting of a lot of things, and we respect that.

Yeah, that's basically what I can give you. I mean, we're all in the team in a good space at the moment. It's been a tough week, but I think it's drawn us together and we've drawn some strength and inspiration from this.

Q. You guys played really well in Sri Lanka to beat them in the T20 series. They seem to be a slightly different side here in the T20 World Cup. Have you noticed any differences? Are they doing something different to what they were doing when you beat them in Sri Lanka?

KESHAV MAHARAJ: Yeah, I think they're a side in form at the moment. You've seen they've played some really good cricket. The batters are scoring runs. The bowlers, they have some really good spinners and fastbowlers at the moment who are bowling really quickly, as well.

Yeah, we're going to have to do our homework and not take any situation for granted. This is a World Cup and teams find a way of stepping up, so hopefully we've done our homework and we've trained accordingly to combat the Sri Lankan team tomorrow.

Q. You guys played very well on Tuesday despite everything, and that's been storied a lot in the reportings. With this game against Sri Lanka, it is nail-biting stuff as far as the tournament is concerned. Did you guys need another directive in order to get that fire again in your performances, or are you going to be able to summon another performance like that, which you will need for the next coming pool games?

KESHAV MAHARAJ: I think it showed the character of the team in the previous game. We know what's at stake in this World Cup, so we are leaving everything behind us when we step over that rope. Yeah, I don't think we need any more directives or anything like that. I think the only directives that we need for ourselves is to make sure that we bring our best on the field and are bringing the right energies and performances that we do go on and combat teams in the middle of the pack.

Q. The toss, is it as vital as it seems, winning it, and the teams chasing having such an advantage on these pitches?

KESHAV MAHARAJ: I'm not too sure if it really does. I think various venues it differs with the toss, but only tomorrow will I be able to tell you if the toss made a difference or not.

Q. This is your first World Cup. Have you found -- besides this week with Quinton, do you feel that there's just a lot happening always around the team, there's a lot more focus, a lot more attention, a lot more tension heading into each game?

KESHAV MAHARAJ: Yeah, obviously it's my first World Cup. I think apart from the World Cup, I think in various series we've had a lot of criticism for various things, so it's just another day basically that things have happened.

Like I mentioned before, I think we've drawn a lot closer from the various instances that we've been poised with. Yeah, we keep building our character, and what doesn't hurt us will make us stronger.