We are not chokers, insists South Africa captain Smith
South African captain Graeme Smith will not let his team be branded chokers anymore despite failing to make the final of the World Twenty20 here.
South Africa, overwhelming favourites after five straight wins in the tournament, were knocked out by Pakistan in a seven-run defeat in Thursday's semi-final.
Shahid Afridi smashed 51 from 34 balls and then grabbed 2-16 with his leg-spin as Pakistan successfully defended 149-4 to restrict the Proteas to 142-5 before a sell-out crowd at Trent Bridge.
"Every time we lose an important game, that word, chokers, is thrown around," a disappointed Smith said after the match.
"But we have played great cricket and I am proud of the way the guys have performed.
"During the last couple of years we have been on an upward curve and the team will improve and get stronger and stronger."
South Africa has faltered in most major multi-nation tournaments like the World Cup and Champions Trophy despite being one of the leading sides in the modern game.
Smith said the semi-final loss hurt, but conceded Pakistan was the better team and deserved to win.
"It is obviously disappointing and sad to be leaving the tournament now," he said.
"We have played some great cricket in this tournament and played some great cricket in the semi-final.
"But Pakistan brought their 'A' game to this match and every cog worked well for them.
Surely it wouldn't happen again? This South African team was primed, ready and in-form. They had all the bases covered and had come through unbeaten to the semi-final. They had countered pressure on numerous occasions in the past two years and had even employed a psychologist who had helped them counter the mind games. Once again, though, it all came to nothing.
The look on Graeme Smith's face as he sat in the dug-out during the closing stages of South Africa's failed run chase was worth a thousand words. History was repeating itself as the favorites were dumped out of another tournament before the final that seemed destined to be theirs. It took until about the half-way mark of the press conference for someone to use the inevitable 'choker' word, but Smith was ready for it; after all he's had practice.
Any cricket match on a given day is simply who the better team on that day is.
Keep in mind South Africa has a decent record against subcontinent teams and it boils down to who plays the best.
For more info: http://www.indyalive.com/T20-world-cup/results/
And http://www.indyalive.com/t20-world-cup/t20-world-cup-2009-records/
South Africa, overwhelming favourites after five straight wins in the tournament, were knocked out by Pakistan in a seven-run defeat in Thursday's semi-final.
Shahid Afridi smashed 51 from 34 balls and then grabbed 2-16 with his leg-spin as Pakistan successfully defended 149-4 to restrict the Proteas to 142-5 before a sell-out crowd at Trent Bridge.
"Every time we lose an important game, that word, chokers, is thrown around," a disappointed Smith said after the match.
"But we have played great cricket and I am proud of the way the guys have performed.
"During the last couple of years we have been on an upward curve and the team will improve and get stronger and stronger."
South Africa has faltered in most major multi-nation tournaments like the World Cup and Champions Trophy despite being one of the leading sides in the modern game.
Smith said the semi-final loss hurt, but conceded Pakistan was the better team and deserved to win.
"It is obviously disappointing and sad to be leaving the tournament now," he said.
"We have played some great cricket in this tournament and played some great cricket in the semi-final.
"But Pakistan brought their 'A' game to this match and every cog worked well for them.
Surely it wouldn't happen again? This South African team was primed, ready and in-form. They had all the bases covered and had come through unbeaten to the semi-final. They had countered pressure on numerous occasions in the past two years and had even employed a psychologist who had helped them counter the mind games. Once again, though, it all came to nothing.
The look on Graeme Smith's face as he sat in the dug-out during the closing stages of South Africa's failed run chase was worth a thousand words. History was repeating itself as the favorites were dumped out of another tournament before the final that seemed destined to be theirs. It took until about the half-way mark of the press conference for someone to use the inevitable 'choker' word, but Smith was ready for it; after all he's had practice.
Any cricket match on a given day is simply who the better team on that day is.
Keep in mind South Africa has a decent record against subcontinent teams and it boils down to who plays the best.
For more info: http://www.indyalive.com/T20-world-cup/results/
And http://www.indyalive.com/t20-world-cup/t20-world-cup-2009-records/
