The Proteas are in a peculiar position in this year's Cricket World Cup having picked up only one point in 4 games. Three losses and a rained out game have left the team second last on the log, and needing to win their remaining five games to stay ahead of their semi-final hopes. Injuries have not made things easy for the team, losing Anrich Nortje, Dale Steyn and, the latest addition to the list, Lungi Ngidi.

Good news has fallen upon the camp, however, with Lungi Ngidi being expected to make a full recovery and be available for the Proteas for their game against Afghanistan on Saturday, June 15. The Proteas' pace bowler pulled up with a tight hamstring just 4 overs into his spell in South Africa's shock defeat to Bangladesh on June 2. 

Proteas Captain, Faf du Plessis, spoke out about Lungi Ngidi after the Proteas no-result game against the West Indies on June 10. 

"He hasn't bowled a lot and then he picks up an injury and it was probably on the verge of 'can he, can't he play'?"

"We just feel like it is more important for him to just have another three or four days to build-up his loads again so he can bowl eight, nine, 10 overs."

"Luckily for us today there wasn't a lot of cricket, so we can throw him straight into the next game."

The Proteas will be drawing inspiration from when Pakistan won the Cricket World Cup in 1992, the last time the competition was played in the round robin format. There are eerie similarities between the two campaigns. Much like the Proteas in 2019, back in 1992 Pakistan lost their three opening games, had their fourth rained out, and turned their campaign around with a win in their fifth game. 

The Proteas will be looking to spark their campaign into life when they meet Afghanistan in their first Day and Night game of the tournament on Saturday, June 15, that match starting at 14:30.

@Samludidi - OFM Sport