South Africa can ensure their World Cup quarterfinal place on Tuesday, but just a few thousand fans are expected to dot Kolkata’s cavernous Eden Gardens to witness the celebrations.
The Proteas, on a high after their battling three-wicket win over India, face Ireland with Graeme Smith’s men guaranteed a last-eight place with a victory.
It would also end slim Irish hopes of progressing and leave India, West Indies, Bangladesh and England scrambling for the last three spots in Group B.
However, the 65 000-capacity Eden Gardens, which hosted the 1987 final, will feel eerily empty as local fans once again turn their backs on matches not involving India.
The Press Trust of India said that only 2 400 tickets have been sold for the ground’s three allocated matches.
Eden Gardens was stripped of its marquee match, between India and England on February 27, because renovation work was not complete.
“Eden Gardens is a special place to play cricket. We have played a Test match here and it’s good to be back,” said South Africa coach Corrie van Zyl.
One player likely to miss the game is in-form batsman AB de Villiers, who has a thigh strain.
De Villiers, who has made 318 runs at the tournament at an average of 106, is likely to be replaced by Colin Ingram, with leg-spinner Imran Tahir sidelined for a second match in succession to nurse a broken thumb.
Van Zyl believes South Africa’s dramatic win over India in Nagpur was a major psychological boost after the shattering loss to England where they failed to chase down 171.
“The win against India was good for us and our morale. It was a psychological boost for us and a very important game in the tournament,” said the South Africa coach.
When asked whether South Africa were aiming to top Group B, and avoid a more daunting quarterfinal assignment, Van Zyl said: “We are going to take it one game at a time. We are not looking too far ahead now. Our focus is on Ireland.”
With their quarterfinal place already assured, Pakistan coach Waqar Younis now wants his team to beat defending champions Australia in their final Group A match on Saturday.
The 1992 champions eased into the last eight with a comfortable seven-wicket win over Zimbabwe on Monday and face Australia, who are on an unbeaten 33-match streak in the World Cup.
“They are such a big team, world champs, and haven’t lost for ages,” said Waqar of Australia, whose last defeat in the event came at the hands of Pakistan in 1999.
He said topping Group A would mean playing the number four team in Group B “whose morale would be down, but for me the bigger thing is the momentum”.
Pakistan, with eight points from five matches, are second in Group A, behind New Zealand on net run-rate. Sri Lanka and Australia have also reached the quarterfinals.
Pakistan restricted Zimbabwe to 151-7 on Monday before rain curtailed Zimbabwe’s innings. Set a revised target of 162 in 38 overs, Pakistan won on the back of an undefeated 78 by Asad Shafiq. – AFP
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