Despite many branding the top-ranked sides like England, India and Australia to be the favourites for World Cup, South African pacer Dale Steyn has said that the ICC rankings will have no effect in the tournament. He believes that the team which adapts to the conditions quick will hit the ground running.
"I think you really need to take rankings and throw it out of the window. Rankings these days don't mean anything. I don't even know what ranking West Indies have, and they just beat England. Australia were losing, and then they've started winning again," Steyn was quoted by Cricbuzz.
"I think every team going to the World Cup has a massive chance. England are playing in England, and they're playing some good white-ball cricket. You just need to go there, figure out which teams are best adapting to the conditions and then the team that hits the ground running first has the best chance," he added.
Steyn, who has replaced Australia's Nathan Coulter-Nile in Virat Kohli-led team Bengaluru in the on-going Indian T-20 League, will probably be appearing in his last World Cup. He added that his team is heading into the tournament with high spirit.
"I don't think South Africa have lost an ODI series in one and a half years, but no one gives us a chance and then somebody does." South Africa have won 11 of their last 13 ODI series.
"If you're not going to the World Cup expecting to win, then you probably shouldn't go. But I'm not going to lie, we have some fantastic players," Steyn, who turns 37 on June 27, added.
The South African players playing in the Indian T20 League (Imran Tahir, Kagiso Rabada, Quinton de Kock and their captain, Faf du Plessis) have been in amazing form of late and Steyn believes that this will be the key for the team in the World Cup.
"We're led by Faf, who's been in fantastic form lately. And in the IPL, Imran Tahir has been right up there in terms of wickets. From Quinton de Kock all the way down to No. 11, they're all match-winners. We just need to go there and hope a bit of luck - weather, a missed no-ball - goes your way, and you could win the tournament."
"You look at KG (Rabada), he's been bowling exceptionally well. Kagiso is a wunderkind. Just hope he continues that kind of form. He's come on to the scene in international cricket and grabbed the opportunity with both hands. We've seen players come in, show signs of extreme excellence and then fade away, but KG is someone we can get used to," Steyn concluded.
South Africa, who are expected to name their preliminary 15-man squad for the tournament on Thursday, April 18, will begin their World Cup quest against England on May 30th at the Kennington Oval.
