The Proteas will host Zimbabwe at Buffalo Park in the first of three T20Is on Tuesday night with a very inexperienced squad.
With the likes of Gihahn Cloete and Rassie van der Dussen hoping to make their international debuts in East London, allrounder Andile Phehlukwayo is convinced that the new guys in the squad can hold their own at the highest level.
The 22-year-old, who has played in 13 T20Is, says: “The camp is in good state and the guys are positive. A lot of guys are quite new to the team, but if you look at the domestic performances, they really deserve their caps.
“Depth within the South African system is really good and it’s good to see new guys coming in and putting up their hands before the World Cup [next year].”
Phehlukwayo hopes that the atmosphere at Buffalo Park will help the youngsters ease into the game.
Of the venue, he says: “I love coming here. The fans great and it’s really exciting – there are a lot of passionate supporters.”
Of playing Zimbabwe he adds: “[Our mission is not to] drop the standard of the team, no matter who you play against. You have to pay respect to any team you play against.”
Proteas squad with T20I caps:
Faf du Plessis (captain, 39), Gihahn Cloete (0), Junior Dala (4), Quinton de Kock (32), JP Duminy (77), Robbie Frylinck (2), Imran Tahir (36), Christiaan Jonker (1), Heinrich Klaasen (4), David Miller (61), Lungi Ngidi (4), Dane Paterson (7), Andile Phelukhwayo (13), Tabraiz Shamsi (6) and Rassie van der Dussen (0).