T20 World Cup 2024: Not Australian!! Rohit Sharma warned by Irfan Pathan for these South African players

Former Indian cricketer-turned-commentator, Irfan Pathan, is scared by the thought of what will happen if the dangerous duo of Heinrich Klaasen and Tristan Stubbs bat together for South Africa during the final five overs of the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

Both Stubbs and Klaasen have been named in South Africa's 15-member squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024, which is set to be co-hosted by the USA and Caribbean on June 1. They are in red-hot form with the bat in the ongoing IPL 2024, which left Pathan terrified about their potential impact in the multi-nation T20 tournament.

Klaasen, the South African wicketkeeper-batter, has been in scorching form with the bat for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the ongoing IPL 2024, amassing a whopping 339 runs in just 11 innings at a remarkable strike rate of 186.26.

His onslaught included an astounding 31 sixes, showcasing his ability to wreak havoc on opposition bowlers, which is certainly alarming for the bowlers.

Irfan Pathan worried over Heinrich Klaasen-Tristan Stubbs Combo in T20 World Cup 2024

Meanwhile, Stubbs, the South African batting all-rounder, has been equally formidable for the Delhi Capitals (DC) in the ongoing season, accumulating 318 runs, with 22 sixes to his name, in 12 games at an impressive average of 53 and a blistering strike of 188.17.

Notably, Stubbs has been particularly devastating in the death overs, having scored an impressive 202 runs between overs 16 and 20 at an astonishing strike rate of 252 in the tournament. Given the Proteas duo’s blistering batting form, the former Indian all-rounder warned the teams of them.

On social media platform X, Irfan Pathan expressed his concerns about the potential devastation Stubbs and Klaasen could cause if they combine forces and bat together during the crucial final overs of a match in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024.

The former Indian World Cup winner wrote on X: “Imagine Klassen and Stubbs batting in the last 5 overs for South Africa in the World Cup. Scary thought.”

Here's Irfan Pathan's X post -

Imagine Klassen and Stubbs batting in the last 5 overs for South Africa in the World Cup. Scary thought.

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) May 7, 2024

Notably, South Africa has not yet won an ICC trophy, but they will enter the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 as one of the strong contenders for the title in the USA and Caribbean. South Africa is placed along with Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, the Netherlands, and Nepal in Group D at the mega event.

The South African Cricket Team, led by Aiden Markram, is scheduled to face Sri Lanka on June 3 in their T20 World Cup 2024 opener, followed by the group matches against Bangladesh on June 8, the Netherlands on June 10, and Nepal on June 14. Well, South Africa must secure a top-two finish in their group stage to advance to the Super 8s stage of the tournament.

Here’s South Africa’s T20 World Cup 2024 Squad:

Aiden Markram (c), Ottniel Baartman, Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, David Miller, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs.