- Proteas left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj said they'll be the finished product for the 2023 World Cup.
- Maharaj will be leading the Proteas in their ODI series against the Netherlands that starts on Friday.
- Maharaj said there is a method in their madness.
Keshav Maharaj may not have been part of the Proteas ODI set up for the longest of time, but the left-arm spinner said they'll be the finished product when the 2023 World Cup comes round.
They still need to qualify for the tournament outright by finishing in the top eight of the ODI Super League.
Friday's first ODI against the Netherlands at SuperSport Park in Centurion will be the first step for Mark Boucher's side to move away from ninth place.
Maharaj, who is standing in for Temba Bavuma as captain, said there is a method to their madness.
"Our progress has been a bit slow, but I think there is a plan to everything," Maharaj said.
"By 2023, I think we'll be the finished product and the reason why some results haven't been going our way is because of the combinations we've been trying.
"It's all about building towards the bigger picture, but we also do need the points to ensure the qualification comes along.
"However, there is some method to our madness."
The Netherlands ODI series will represent SA's first opportunity of winning an ODI series since their 3-0 whitewash of Australia in March last year.
Series against England, Sri Lanka and Ireland didn't produce the required results to force them up the table.
The Proteas need the 30 points that will move them into third place with 64 points while the majority of the other Test nations will be engaged in Test cricket.
Maharaj has identified the need to get maximum points against the Netherlands to avoid having their fate in the hands of other teams.
"It's really important that we do well in this series. There are Super League points at stake," Maharaj said.
"We need to qualify for the World Cup, so every series is important from here on from a points perspective.
"As much as we have rested our regular players, we're not going to take the series lightly and we'll try to get as many points from it as possible."
There's also the return of former Kolpak players like Wayne Parnell, who has been turning out for Western Province while the bulk of the other players got stuck into four-day cricket.
While it wouldn't be seen as the best form of preparation for white-ball cricket, Maharaj said the fact they've been playing cricket is the best of things.
"A lot of the guys have been playing four-day cricket, so in terms of bowling loads and stuff, it's been really good for them," Maharaj said.
"Parney's is a good space with his cricket. He's been taking a lot of responsibility and that has been good to see.
"Without the other regulars around, it gives the youngsters an opportunity to see what they can do in international cricket and see how they can fit into our systems."
