- Proteas stand-in skipper Heinrich Klaasen said they're on a learning process, but will get better.
- South Africa have now lost five consecutive T20's, with their performances varying from brave to abysmal.
- Klaasen also said he was nervous after playing his first game since recovering from Covid-19.
Proteas stand-in captain Heinrich Klaasen said their teething problems with regards to getting positive results is "part of their learning process".
In losing the first T20 against Pakistan by three runs, South Africa have lost five consecutive T20s and eight out of their last 10 games in the shortest format.
Their last win was a 12-run run triumph against Australia in February last year.
However, in that series, the Proteas were subjected to 107 and 97-run defeats in the first and third matches wherein chases of 195 and 195, they were bowled out for 89 and 96 respectively.
In last year's England T20 series, where they batted first in all three games, they regressed to a point where England hunted 192 in less than 18 overs with nine wickets to spare.
Klaasen, who fell sick with Covid-19 during the England series, said the England series couldn't be used as a barometer to gauge this series because of different conditions and squads.
Several of the Proteas first-choice players headed back home early to prepare for the Australia Test series that's now cancelled.
"It's a different situation that we're in now. You can't compare the losses against England to what we have now. It is a different squad and the conditions are different. I don't think we played too badly. We are playing good cricket, but it's the crucial moments that we're not taking, but that's part of the learning process," Klaasen said.
"It's also about peaking at the right time. Yes, there is a lot of learning to do, but we also want to play good cricket. The key for us is to be patient and take those big opportunities."
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Klaasen's last T20 for the national team was in Paarl against England on 29 November before he contracted the life-threatening virus and spent a significant time out of the game, trying to get fit.
Klaasen said he was "nervous" early in his innings of 12 off 10 balls but picked out Hussain Talat at deep square-leg off Haris Rauf at a crucial time in the Proteas chase.
"I was nervous for the first couple of deliveries, but I feel good now and I hit the ball very nicely. I was pleased to be in a battle but need to raise the intensity a little bit more, but I'm happy with the way I have been playing," Klaasen said.
While Klaasen said they were much improved in most of their departments despite the loss, he also cited their fielding as a facet where they could improve for Saturday's second T20 at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
"I was quite pleased with the fielding, except for the two dropped catches because they cost us a bit. We are young, but that's no excuse. We play professional cricket and we have certain standards that we need to uphold. We're very good in the field, so that's no excuse," Klaasen said.
