'Always an energy you can feel when it comes to semi-final' - Rob Walter opens up on subdued build-up ahead of Afghanistan clash

In an unexpectedly subdued atmosphere leading up to the T20 World Cup semi-final, South Africa's head coach Rob Walter is uniquely preparing his team for their crucial match against Afghanistan.

The first Semi-Final of the T20 World Cup 2024 is set to take place at the Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad on June 27, with both teams making history in their own right. The Rashid Khan-led side secured their first-ever knockout stage appearance in an ICC event by defeating Bangladesh by eight runs in their previous match.

This milestone achievement has set the stage for an exciting clash with South Africa, a team often associated with high-pressure situations in major tournaments. The build-up to this semi-final has been notably low-key, with South Africa's head coach Rob Walter addressing a nearly empty press conference room. 

"This is an empty hall, which is a good sign, I think. It's not really about the press but about the occasion, isn't it," Walter said as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

Despite the lack of media, Walter is focusing on helping his team accept the emotions that come with such a significant match. He is optimistic about his side playing a good brand of cricket in an important fixture.

"I think there's always an energy that you can feel that's tangible when it comes to a semi-final. There'll be a mixture of emotions which is with anxiety but excitement and I think anyone in any sport, if they get to this phase of a competition, feels that. And so really, it's just acknowledging that and accepting it and then just understanding what you'll do with that. We still want to play our best cricket in the key moments of the game tomorrow," he added.

Also read: If South Africa get past that semi-final right, they are going to win T20 World Cup final this year: Brad Hogg

We're just going to go out there and give it our all: Jonathan Trott

The South African coach emphasized the importance of acknowledging and accepting these feelings, rather than trying to downplay the magnitude of the event. 

He believes this approach will help the team channel their energy effectively during key moments of the game. Walter also addressed the team's history of near misses in major tournaments

"The near misses in the past, they belong to the people who missed them. To be honest, this team is a different team. We own whatever is ours to own. And so, our nearest reflection point is this tournament where we've managed to get over the line. So that's what we think about," Walter further added.

Also read: ICC names match officials for Semifinals

On the other hand, Afghanistan's coach Jonathan Trott sees their lack of semi-final experience as an advantage. He feels reaching the semi-finals is a great deal in itself for his side and they are going into the match with a nothing-to-lose attitude.

"We go into the semi-final with no scarring or no history with regards to semi-finals. This is uncharted territory for us. We're just going to go out there and give it our all. There's no preconceived ideas on it all or history of failure or success in semi-finals in past years. For us it's a new challenge, and I think that makes us dangerous in the semi-finals as a side with nothing to lose and a lot of pressure on the opposition," he said.