Thaindian News

Johannesburg, March 28 (IANS) Cricket South Africa (CSA) chief executive Gerald Majola Monday admitted that the team will have to live with the chokers tag following their shock ouster from the World Cup.

South Africa lost to New Zealand in the quarterfinals after topping the group. Citing the defeat, Majola said the South Africa have allowed the chokers tag to stick to them.

“We have always had this chokers tag with us; unfortunately we have allowed it to stick,” Majola was quoted as saying by Sport 24 website.

“We haven’t applied ourselves. We have to accept the problem and then deal with it.”

Majola was expecting the team to reach the final after faring well in the group stage.

“When I looked at the draw, I thought we would play either India or Pakistan in the final. But we failed ourselves. The match was basically a replica of the England game. We needed calm heads.”

Majola was in Dhaka where the team was bowled out for 172, chasing New Zealand’s 222. He recalled the dark moment for South African cricket and said he had not seen outgoing captain Graeme Smith in a worse mood than that.

“I have known Graeme since he was 18 years old in 1998, when I was a selector, and I have never seen him so distraught.”

Coach Corrie van Zyl will also step down with the skipper and Majola said the process of finding the replacements has already begun.

“We have a shortlist of six names that we will announce after the tournament,” Majola said.

Van Zyl had Sunday said requested the fans not to call the team chokers as it puts pressure on the players.