Ashhar Alam | New Delhi

South Africa fast bowler Anrich Nortje has sought to allay concerns over the Proteas’ injury-hit squad ahead of the T20 World Cup, insisting that the team has the depth and quality to cope with the setbacks, with replacements already showing strong form and readiness for the global tournament.

South Africa were recently forced to tweak their 15-member World Cup squad, bringing in Ryan Rickelton and Tristan Stubbs after injuries ruled out Tony de Zorzi and Donovan Ferreira. While Nortje admitted that injuries are always a blow, he stressed that the players stepping in are experienced, confident and match-ready.

“It’s obviously sad and unfortunate when injuries happen. I’ve been on that side before at World Cups and ICC events,” Nortje said after Sunrisers Eastern Cape secured a place in the SA20 final with a seven-wicket win over Paarl Royals. “But the guys who’ve come in have really put their hands up and done well.”

The South African speedster underlined that the replacements are not newcomers to high-pressure cricket. “They’ve either been part of previous World Cups or have spent time with the squad. They’ve also performed strongly in the SA20, so it’s not like we’re bringing in players who aren’t ready,” he said.

Injuries have also affected senior players such as David Miller, Dewald Brevis and Lungi Ngidi, but Nortje believes the team remains well covered. “Luckily, we’re in a position where we can replace players with good quality, and that’s exactly what has happened,” he added.

Commenting on the slow nature of pitches at venues like the Wanderers, Nortje said South African conditions are varied enough to prepare teams for different challenges. “You’re going to get different wickets wherever you go. In South Africa, every venue offers something different. The important thing is how quickly the team adapts, and I think we’ve done that well,” he said.

The 32-year-old, who has represented South Africa in 66 limited-overs matches, also reflected on the demanding schedule in recent months. While acknowledging the hectic travel and tight turnaround between games, he felt the heavy workload has helped players gain valuable match practice ahead of the World Cup.

“The schedule has been intense and there hasn’t been much downtime, but the upside is that everyone has played a lot of cricket. That’s a good thing for us going into a major tournament,” Nortje noted.

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He admitted that a short T20I series before the World Cup would have been ideal but said the squad appears close to peak readiness. “You’d always like a bit more time together, but everyone looks confident and has played well. It’s probably as close to ideal as it can be,” he said.

Looking ahead to the SA20 final against Pretoria Capitals in Cape Town, Nortje highlighted the unpredictability of the T20 format. “In this format, any one player can change the game. One batter can score a quick fifty or one bowler can take a five-for,” he said. “That’s why you have to take every opponent seriously. It’s hard to single out one threat in T20 cricket.”