Faf du Plessis lashes out at South Africa's World Cup performance, terms it mediocre

Faf du Plessis led South Africa failed to qualify for the knockouts of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 as they lost their game their against a struggling side Pakistan. Their loss by 49 runs at the "Mecca of Cricket" meant that South Africa became the second side after Afghanistan to be knocked out of the tournament. Needless to say, their only win of the tournament has come against Afghanistan.

Addressing the media after their loss against Pakistan, Skipper Faf du Plessis said, "The results we are dishing out at the moment, it's tough. The way we played today is borderline embarrassing."

"It started with our bowling. There were a lot of bad balls on a wicket where if you just bowled line and length it was going to be hard for them.

It was a five out of 10 performance with the ball, then the same batting. We stated nicely, got a partnership going, then wickets fall.

"We are a mediocre team at the moment because we are making the same mistakes. One step forward and two steps back is not a good team."

Barring a few players who made significant contributions to the team, the other players have failed to perform at crucial junctures and have collectively failed as a team. They are currently placed at 9th position in the points table with a solitary win from seven games.

Their mediocre performance meant that the African Nation have failed to qualify for the knockout stages of the premier event for only the second time.

He further added, "The guys are playing with low confidence and making the same mistakes. It just rolls on, it's such a snowball effect."

"The real, honest answer is it chips away at you. You try really hard, then come back the next game and make the same mistakes. It chips away at your confidence and ego as a player."

Du Plessis terms this exit from the tournament as humiliating and the lowest point of his career.

"I am a very proud player and captain. Playing for South Africa means a lot to me. There are people rightly and fairly criticizing the team because we are not playing the cricket we should."

He also blamed the burnout of him and the other players who played in the IPL as one of the main reasons for their disappointing performance in the World Cup.

He said, "It's important we find space to rest our three-format players. They are playing a lot of cricket. That's the one area I would have changed but it's not in my hands."

Faf Du Plessis signed off by saying that he would try to fix as many problems as possible within the team and help his side perform well on the World's biggest stage.

With their World Cup hopes done and dusted, South Africa will play for pride in the remaining two games of their campaign against Sri Lanka and Australia.