Confident but not arrogant – de Villiers keeps his focus

The last time South Africa met Pakistan in an international fixture was back at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, when it failed to chase down what seemed a modest target (222). That seems a lifetime ago, given the contrasting directions the two sides have gone in since then.

South Africa is now the No. 1-ranked side in One-Day Internationals, while Pakistan is No. 8, just about scraping through to the ICC Champions Trophy 2017.

Where the sides stand now was reflected in their captains’ confidence levels before the two sides meet on Wednesday (June 7) in Birmingham.

“The last time we played them in the Champions Trophy, we got the better of them at the same ground,” shot back AB de Villiers when reminded of the World Cup game. “So we are confident going into this game, without being arrogant or overconfident. We played really good, won our first game in the tournament. We did all the basics really well, so we'll be focusing on that.

“We don't feel any pressure. We feel it's an opportunity once again in this tournament to shift the pressure on to all the opposition we might face. But all our focus is on tomorrow's game. We are very, very prepared and the plans are all in place to go and take Pakistan on.”

Shifting the pressure and ‘staying in the moment’ have become constants in most interactions with South Africans during the tournament. De Villiers said the need to stay in the present wasn’t a conscious strategy, but hinted that it was a realisation arrived at after a rocky history in such tournaments.

“I wouldn't say it's part of team tactics. It's just an awareness of not thinking of the past or the future, as simple as that,” he explained. “If we live in the past, there's lots of scars that we can think of, lots of bad experiences, but some good ones as well. If you try and touch in the future, it's something we can't control as of yet. So it's just wise to try and stay in the moment with what you're confronted with at the very time.

“It's just a little saying that I feel is quite powerful for us to focus on the very next ball – well, not the very next ball, but the one that you're actually dealing with at that moment – and not trying to think of how you're going to finish your over or the few boundaries you just went for. Every bowler has the opportunity to influence the game, and that's the idea behind it.”

One challenge South Africa could face from Pakistan is with regards to spin, especially if the used Edgbaston track assists slow bowlers. Pakistan has four spin-bowling options for the clash, but de Villiers exuded confidence. “Two of the four are part-time spinners,” he argued. “We've played against a lot of opposition in the last, two-three years with two spinners in it. We just played a series against England now with a couple of spinners in, a wrist-spinner, also a finger spinner.

“So not much changes. Every batter has got his game plans in place for the various bowlers, not only the spinners. That's part and parcel of our analysis before games, to make sure we're ready for them. So we've gone through all bowlers and we're pretty happy with our plans.”

Sarfraz Ahmed, meanwhile, said he was confident his team wil lift itself after a demoralising loss to India. “I think the mood is okay,” he said. “A little disappointed after we lost the match, but now the mood is okay. Everything is gone and the next match is coming, so the guys are really focused.”

Sarfraz conceded that the pressure of an India-Pakistan game got to a few youngsters, but said the team will now play with more freedom. “I think India-Pakistan was a big match. We had four-five younger players playing against India for the first time. That's why we had a couple of missed chances that definitely cost us. They did feel under pressure, but we've tried getting them out of that mindset now,” he said.

“We've had discussions and told them that the next two matches are very important and asked them to play freely. We were disappointed after the loss against India. But now that's gone. The guys are really focused on the next game. As a captain, I'm confident that we'll do well.”