Former Australia captain Steve Waugh has admitted that Steve Smith and David Warner will get a hostile welcome in South Africa as the two are returning to the rainbow nation for the first time since the ball-tampering scandal for the upcoming limited-overs series.

Warner and Smith are all set to face the South Africa crowd for the first time since their misdoing – Sandpapergate as they have been named in Australia squad for the three-match T20I series and as many as ODIs starting with the first T20I on Friday (February 21) in Johannesburg.

However, Waugh is confident that the star batsmen will welcome whatever Proteas fans will throw at them with open arms, but it wouldn't really work for the hosts, as the storm will only motivate them to perform better in the upcoming white-ball series.

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As per reports in Sport24, Waugh said: “They will welcome it with open arms. There will be a few comments, and that's all part of the game. They will expect it.”

He continued, “They got that in England it didn't work. Look at Steve Smith in that first Test match at Edgbaston. The crowds were booing him constantly and he got 140 in each innings.”

Even the Aussie legend has advised the South African crowds to “go for it” against Smith and Warner but said it would be only in good spirits.

Waugh signed off by saying, “I would say to South African crowds 'go for it' because it will motivate these players and they'll score runs. It's only natural, I just hope that it's in good spirits and it doesn't go too far.”

(With Sport24 Inputs)