"It will be a different Pakistan team that played in New Zealand" : Quinton de Kock

[MenInG]

South Africa captain Quinton de Kock speaking to the media

"In all honesty we dont know the conditions here that well, no one in the team has played in Pakistan before bar one or two of our coaches - we do understand that in the sub-continent that spin and reverse swing does play a big part so we are making sure all bases are covered in our preparation"

"It helps that we dont do 2 weeks quarantine and its a big help that the PCB has allowed us to come out and start preparing early - its does help us a lot; We havent seen much of Pakistan as our training facility is accross the road and we are only allowed into our team room; The rooms look nice, atleast"

"Before we came here, security was a big part ( of the conversation); But when we arrived here we saw the extent of security , the guys have got much more comfortable - looks like every corner is checked and all bases covered - touchwood; For now we are feeling really safe, for now we are just worrying about cricket"

"Our biggest challenge are conditions here and not knowing what we could face here; When you go to places like Australia, India you kind of know what you will get; I am sure Boucher and one or two others who have played here will keep us upto date with what kind of conditions we will face"

"Its difficult to bat in NZ if you havent played there before; The same team that played in NZ (and had problems there), to play in home conditions will be much better for them"

"With the return of their main player Babar Azam, it will be a much more different team that played in NZ, they will be a very competitive side when they get back in their home conditions"

"Babar has shown in the last couple of years that he is a top-class batsman and its no surprise that he is rated so highly; He's done well in all formats and all over the world; He's seems to be getting better and better as he goes on"

"(to play in the) PSL? I have no clue - at the moment I have got too much cricket (on my plate) - playing for the Proteas, so who knows when"

"Its unfortunate for everyone that no one is allowed to attend the stadiums, atleast it will be an opportunity to see that things are progressing; Obviously its our first time in Pakistan since 14 years which is one step forward towards where we want to get to hopefully in the future; Like I said, its unfortunate with COVID-19 related issues but I am sure things will get better as time goes on and then everyone can watch cricket games live again and enjoy it"

"I've played on Asian pitches in the past where they have targeted teams specifically and prepared dust bowls which made it a little uneven contest; But it is what it is, I have scored some runs when the wickets are decent; So I will come out and look to score some runs"

"The security measures they have taken here are such that they have taken us somewhere we can feel comfortable and focus completely on cricket, and not be worried - if worried at all - about security"

 

[IndoorCricket]

Its really exciting to see cricket back in Pakistan. A safer talking about uneven contest on dust bowls? I still have nightmares of Steyn uprooting Pujara's off stump.

 

[Savak]

South African Cricketers Pleased With Security In Pakistan

South African Cricketers Pleased With Security In Pakistan

South African cricketers have set aside pretour security concerns and want to focus on their first test series in Pakistan in 14 years.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Updated: January 18, 2021, 9:03 PM IST

ISLAMABAD: South African cricketers have set aside pre-tour security concerns and want to focus on their first test series in Pakistan in 14 years.

South Africa is the first of the top five cricketing nations to tour Pakistan since the 2009 terrorist attack on Sri Lanka’s team bus in Lahore. The Proteas, who last toured Pakistan in 2007, kick off their tour with the first test in Karachi from Jan. 26.

The government of Pakistan has provided presidential-like security with visitors team buses being protected by security vans carrying dozens of armed personnel.

To be honest, before we got here security was obviously a big part, but when we arrived and saw the extent of the security, the guys have gotten a lot more comfortable, South African skipper Quinton de Kock told reporters in the southern port city of Karachi on Monday.

It looks like every corner is checked and all bases are covered, touch wood,” he added. “Were feeling really safe and now were just worrying about cricket.

The test in Karachi will be followed by the second test in Rawalpindi from Feb. 4. The test series will be followed by three Twenty20 internationals in Lahore from Feb. 11-14.

The doors of international cricket remained shut on Pakistan after the 2009 attack, but in recent years foreign teams including Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and the West Indies have toured here. Pakistan said in November that it was ready to host major cricketing nations in 2021.

The Pakistan Cricket Board has allowed South Africa to practice close to the team hotel for five days before the visitors start training at the National Stadium the venue for the first test.

And de Kock said the relaxation of not quarantining for 14 days will help his team acclimate.

It helps that we dont have to do two weeks quarantine, he said. Its obviously a big help that the Pakistan Cricket Board has let us come out and start preparing early.

De Kock said South Africas biggest challenge will be playing in conditions which are alien to his team as only Faf du Plessis has some experience playing in Pakistan.

Du Plessis led a World XI team to Pakistan for a Twenty20 series in 2017 and played for Peshawar in a playoff game of the Pakistan Super League in Karachi last November.

Our biggest challenge is the conditions that we could face, the unknowing of the things that we have to deal with, de Kock said. When you go to places like Australia, India, you kind of know what youre going to get, (but) the unknowing of the things that are going to happen, you think thats a big part.

Link: https://www.news18.com/cricketnext/...leased-with-security-in-pakistan-3308825.html

 

[MenInG]

Good to see SA captain praising security in Pakistan.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Can't get any better endorsements than this and the ones that have already been given by visiting teams and visiting PSL players. If any team still doesn't want to come than there is an issue with them.

 

[aloo paratha]

He's not wrong. Babar Azam is a class player. Also Hasan Ali coming back in red hot form will help the team.

 

[Shoaibbtt]

All i'll say is watch out for the domestic lads, they know Karachi like the back of their hand so can't wait for their performances.

 

[MenInG]

REUTERS: South Africa captain Quinton de Kock says his side's batsmen will have to be mentally stronger if they are to compete with Pakistan in the second and final test that starts in Rawalpindi on Thursday.

The tourists were well beaten in the first match of the series to lose by seven wickets in Karachi on Friday, coming unstuck against the Pakistan spin duo of Yasir Shah and debutant Nauman Ali, who took 14-206 in the test between them.

De Kock blamed poor shot selection and some anxious cricket in their first innings in particular, where they also had two run-outs in their top six as they were bowled out for 220 having won the toss and elected to bat.

"We were never really ahead in the game, 220 in the first innings on that wicket is not good enough, especially when you opt to bat first. We let ourselves down," De Kock told reporters.

"The first innings we gave them our wickets, second innings there were one or two good nuts. We have to go back (to training), prepare and come back mentally stronger."

South Africa have passed 300 just three times in their last 25 innings on the sub-continent, and more recently have been prone to spectacular collapses.

They crumbled from 175 for one to 245 all out in the second innings in Karachi.

"If we knew how to fix them (the collapses) we wouldn’t be doing them in the first place, but we have spoken about it and are trying to find a way to stop it," De Kock added.

"In our second innings (of this test) we saw the way Aiden (Markram) and Rassie (Van der Dussen) went about it, they took their time and kept the ball on the ground, soaked up the pressure and scored where they could.

"Our record in the sub-continent is not the greatest, but we have won a couple of series. It is just a matter of finding a way to win."

 

[Rana]

He was right unlike his mate Faf Du Plesis who thought Pakistan is a one man army.

If only this was a 3 match series and we could rub in a 3-0 against a SENA side

 

[sshakir411]

Home advantage is real. Yasir looked like a million bucks and in NZ he couldn’t bowl one decent leg spinner

 

[Mamoon]

Home advantage is real. Yasir looked like a million bucks and in NZ he couldn’t bowl one decent leg spinner

Yes, and this advantage existed in UAE as well which propelled Pakistan to number 1 ranking and propelled Yasir to 200+ wickets including fastest to 100 wickets.

Our fans are acting as if we have benefited from favorable conditions for the first time in 10+ years.

This whole romanticism of home advantage and this emotional story of how Pakistani cricketers were handicapped by not playing at home would have had credibility if we didn’t reach the number 1 ranking in the UAE era.

 

[Mamoon]

Speaking of de Kock, he is the most disinterested captain I have seen. It seems as if he was handed the Test captaincy on gun point.

I know he wasn’t eager to begin with, but now that you have been given the job, at least try to look the part for the cameras.

His body-language was ridiculous.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Speaking of de Kock, he is the most disinterested captain I have seen. It seems as if he was handed the Test captaincy on gun point.

I know he wasn’t eager to begin with, but now that you have been given the job, at least try to look the part for the cameras.

His body-language was ridiculous.

Told you he would struggle with all 3 roles in side.

 

[UzmanBeast]

Speaking of de Kock, he is the most disinterested captain I have seen. It seems as if he was handed the Test captaincy on gun point.

I know he wasn’t eager to begin with, but now that you have been given the job, at least try to look the part for the cameras.

His body-language was ridiculous.

I think that De Kock will step down from captaincy after this series, it doesn't look like he wants to do it anyways.

He's a class batsman and a wicketkeeper, and he should focus on those two aspects if SA want to do well overseas.

He should return to his normal spot down at 7 and allow Bavuma (though he's not a good player) to play at 5.

 

[shady]

Yes, and this advantage existed in UAE as well which propelled Pakistan to number 1 ranking and propelled Yasir to 200+ wickets including fastest to 100 wickets.

Our fans are acting as if we have benefited from favorable conditions for the first time in 10+ years.

This whole romanticism of home advantage and this emotional story of how Pakistani cricketers were handicapped by not playing at home would have had credibility if we didn’t reach the number 1 ranking in the UAE era.

There's more to home advantage than simply the pitch being in your favour. They played in empty stadiums in the desert and spent months at a time away from their families. Other teams have had that experience for a just a bit due to COVID and have admitted that it's incredibly tough.

 

[RickyG]

I think that De Kock will step down from captaincy after this series, it doesn't look like he wants to do it anyways.

He's a class batsman and a wicketkeeper, and he should focus on those two aspects if SA want to do well overseas.

He should return to his normal spot down at 7 and allow Bavuma (though he's not a good player) to play at 5.

South Africa need to drop the deadweight that Bavuma is. Maybe QDK needs to give up the gloves and bring in someone like Verreyne or Klaasen. Basically those guys seem like better batsmen than Bavuma.

You can't carry a guy who has scored 1 100 in 43 test matches. Fawad Alam has scored that many test 100s in each decade of this century already.

 

[Shoaibbtt]

I think that De Kock will step down from captaincy after this series, it doesn't look like he wants to do it anyways.

He's a class batsman and a wicketkeeper, and he should focus on those two aspects if SA want to do well overseas.

He should return to his normal spot down at 7 and allow Bavuma (though he's not a good player) to play at 5.

He was forced into captaincy when he didn't want it, but i would say he needs dropped altogether he was uninterested in this match, he looked like he was a million miles away. The review taking was really poor to say the least and his batting form was poor especially the shot in the first innings.

 

[UzmanBeast]

South Africa need to drop the deadweight that Bavuma is. Maybe QDK needs to give up the gloves and bring in someone like Verreyne or Klaasen. Basically those guys seem like better batsmen than Bavuma.

You can't carry a guy who has scored 1 100 in 43 test matches. Fawad Alam has scored that many test 100s in each decade of this century already.

True.

South Africa need to think about what their team is gonna look like, because soon, they won't have Faf there as well.

 

[UzmanBeast]

He was forced into captaincy when he didn't want it, but i would say he needs dropped altogether he was uninterested in this match, he looked like he was a million miles away. The review taking was really poor to say the least and his batting form was poor especially the shot in the first innings.

He's their best player, he won't get dropped any time soon. Rather, he's gonna be sent down lower, which could also work against him.

What I'm anticipating in Pindi is a dry wicket with enough purchase for Yasir Shah but not for a finger-spinner.

If De Kock is pushed down the order, he'll face Yasir Shah with the old ball, and that could work against him.

SA need to have a big reform in their test side.

 

[Tubs]

Speaking of de Kock, he is the most disinterested captain I have seen. It seems as if he was handed the Test captaincy on gun point.

I know he wasn’t eager to begin with, but now that you have been given the job, at least try to look the part for the cameras.

His body-language was ridiculous.

Agreed, Faf was doing fine as a captain if I recall correctly. Not to appeal to the 'senior culture' which is so prevalent in Pakistan, but he has a wealth of experience and always seems engaged and seems to have a decent head for strategy.

 

[RickyG]

True.

South Africa need to think about what their team is gonna look like, because soon, they won't have Faf there as well.

Agreed. And this team can no longer carry the odd quota pick. Not to mention, Maharaj, Rabada and Nigidi are making the team on merit. That should be enough.

Maybe Qeshile will make it. But it's better to try to groom players of colour at underage level than try to shoehorn one into the test team.