CWC 2019: "Chokers" tag would not affect current South African side, insists Lungi Ngidi

South Africa has not reached finals of World Cup cricket.

Lungi Ngidi poses with World Cup 2019 trophy | ICC

Lungi Ngidi, South African pace sensation, on Thursday (7th February), has insisted that the “chokers” tag would not affect the mindset of the modern Proteas side in the upcoming 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup to be played in England and Wales from 30 May.

The South Africa cricket team has been known as constant chokers in major International Cricket Council (ICC) events having lost all nine of their knockout matches in the ICC contests over the past 15 years.

The Proteas had always failed in the knock out rounds of ICC tournaments, which led them to earn the title chokers and that could down their moral heading into the World Cup 2019.

However, Ngidi has completely different views on the same, saying the modern generation of cricketers doesn’t feel the pressure or carry the baggage of those experiences, as he is hoping to make history in England this time, saying they are going into the World Cup 2019 with "a clean slate."

Ngidi told media on the sidelines of the Cricket World Cup 2019 Trophy Tour, “As a team, you don’t see it as choking. People are allowed to play good cricket on the day. It’s all international teams so you can’t tell me you’re not going to lose a semi-final game.”

The 22-year-old pointed out, “It is tough (to win a semi-final), and it hasn't been able to be done in the past, but it could happen this year. That chokers tag is created by people, but I wouldn't say it affects the team. We've got nothing to lose. It (winning the World Cup) has never been done before by the cricket team, so we're going there with a clean slate.”

The youngster is hoping for successful World Cup 2019 campaign for South Africa in England, saying it is a time for the side to show they can do anything to “inspire a lot of kids” in the country.

Ngidi signed off by saying, “I've always been one to say that most of our talent is hidden in the deepest and darkest corners of South Africa. So, we don't know if we could be getting the next Kagiso Rabada or Dale Steyn out of Soweto. It's good to inspire people and show them anything is (possible)!”

(With AFP Inputs)

 
 

By Rashmi Nanda - 07 Feb, 2019

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