"Not going to apologize": South Africa issue statement on easy route to WTC final claims

South Africa's red-ball coach, Shukri Conrad, is not looking much into the team’s route to the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 final, but he admitted that their schedule was relatively easy compared to other teams.

South Africa secured their place in the WTC Final for the first time with a thrilling two-wicket victory over Pakistan in the first Test at Centurion on December 29, 2024. However, South Africa's WTC cycle structure caught the attention of everyone following their WTC Final 2025.

South Africa coach Shukri Conrad unfazed by criticism of easy WTC Final 2025 route

With just 12 Test matches on the calendar, none of South Africa’s red-ball series extended beyond two matches, which helped them a lot in many cases to qualify for the WTC Final 2025. The Proteas side’s toughest challenges came against India at home and New Zealand away, but they navigated these without much trouble.

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But the remainder of their WTC fixtures were against lower-ranked sides like Bangladesh, West Indies, and Pakistan, giving the South African cricket team an easier path to make it to the finals. Even they played their recent Test series against Sri Lanka at home, sweeping them 2-0, further bolstering their WTC Final chances before the ongoing Test series against Pakistan.

Unlike other teams, the South African side didn't face major powerhouses like Australia and England or any daunting subcontinent tours, except for a short series in Bangladesh. Following their WTC Final 2025 qualification, some feel South Africa’s path to the summit clash lacked the level of challenge other teams faced, but Shukri Conrad remains unfazed.

I’m not going to apologize: Shukri Conrad

The South African head coach has insisted that they made the most of the opportunities in front of them, so there is nothing like apologizing for capitalizing on a favorable schedule. Hitting back at critics, Conrad insisted that the Proteas are deserving of their place in the WTC final. The coach also said that being an underdog sometimes makes things easy.

Shukri Conrad was quoted as saying by The Roar: “We’re just thrilled that we can be at Lord’s next year. People abroad will be shouting that we had an easy draw. Well, I’m not going to apologize for that. I think the good thing about getting the results at home is that you play as a favorite. It’s easy to play as an underdog because you’re not expected to do it.”

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Earlier, former England captain Michael Vaughan criticized the structure of the WTC, highlighting how the South African team had a much easier schedule compared to other teams. For example, England played 22 matches, nearly double the number of Proteas', and faced heavy penalties for slow over-rates and yet again failed to make it to the WTC Final 2025.

They have got to the final by beating pretty much nobody: Michael Vaughan

According to The Roar, Michael Vaughan told Fox Cricket: “If you look at South Africa, they’ve got to the final by beating pretty much nobody. I don’t understand the table; I don’t understand the system we have in place.

"They have beaten Pakistan at home and beaten Sri Lanka at home. I am not against South Africa, but the system has allowed them to get to the final, and they’ve drawn 1-1 against India at home, and they haven’t played England or Australia—I just don’t like the system.”