SA govt advises Proteas T20 squad to be 'inspired' by U-19 team's World Cup win

The South African sports minister has urged the national Twenty20 squad to use the victory of the under-19 side as inspiration in the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh.

The last time a South African team tasted victory in an ICC tournament was the Champions Trophy in 1998, and Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula said the efforts of the under-19s was all the more significant.

According to Sport24, Mbalula said that the team has not done well at a high level in terms of T20, adding that the achievements of the under-19 team, which won the ICC Junior World Cup Final in Dubai, must inspire their senior counterparts to do well in Bangladesh and 'fight for the nation'.

Mbalula however, said that he is confident that the 'old' players sent to the tournament will not misrepresent their country and if possible, will return back with the trophy, adding that positive play on the cricket field was a welcome distraction from some of the more negative stories in South Africa like the ongoing Oscar Pistorius murder trial.