Graeme Smith feels South Africa are likely to end ICC trophy drought in 2025 | Cricket News

When it comes to ICC events, South Africa have always been the proverbial bridesmaids with the Proteas failing to win a major trophy even with world-class talents at their disposal. The latest heartbreak came against India last June when South Africa, who were heading towards a sure-shot victory in the final of the T20 World Cup, unravelled and fell short leading to the Men in Blue ending their own long ICC title drought.
With the Champions Trophy set to begin on February 19, former Proteas skipper Graeme Smith is of the opinion that South Africa will end their prolonged wait for an ICC title winning the whole thing on March 9. Smith also pointed out that the World Test Championship, which will take place in June this year, is another opportunity for the Proteas to clinch an ICC silverware.
“Hopefully, we will end that wait much before the 2027 World Cup, with the Champions Trophy and WTC final coming up but if South Africa could win a WC trophy in front of a home crowd, it would be amazing,” Smith said to PTI Bhasha.
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“Over the next three years, we want to just keep pushing to improve our stadiums, pitches and our cricket ecosystem, so that the time we host the 2027 WC, we are the favourites,” he added.
With critics saying that South Africa had an easier run to the WTC final, playing teams like West Indies, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakan, Smith rebuffed the claims.

“There is no smooth journey in cricket today. You have got to do what you got to do. Right in the beginning, everyone knew who they were playing and who they were not playing. South Africa has won 7 test matches in a row to qualify. Everyone should look into the Test ecosystem, how it works as you play what you have been told to play in that cycle,” he said.