Batsman Rassie van der Dussen was always confident the Proteas would gain direct qualification to this year’s World Cup in India.
South Africa collected World Cup qualification last month. The West Indies, Sri Lanka and other countries, meanwhile, are still trying to qualify for the 2023 World Cup.
“None of us thought that we were ever not going to qualify. It’s a strange feeling that somehow we will scrape in and it ended up that way,” van der Dussen told IOL.
“We have every reason to feel confident. We have a world-class team with every base covered. We have a very versatile squad and even the guys missing out can fill certain roles.
“I think we will go there as underdogs, but that doesn’t change anything. We go there as a passionate and proud cricketing nation.
“We are going to win a World Cup at some stage. The law of averages tells you that. When that is, we don’t know, but it might as well be in November.”
‘A lot has to happen for me to get back into the Test squad’
Van der Dussen was omitted from the Test squad earlier this year, when the West Indies toured South Africa. Whether he returns to the longest format of the international game in the future remains in the balance.
“I’ve probably done okay without nailing my spot down I suppose. I had a fair run, so for the guys coming in, they should also get a fair run,” added van der Dussen.
“With the little amount of Tests that we do play, that might take a year or two, and by that time I would be 36. A lot has to happen for me to get back into the Test squad.”
