The Proteas’ team management has prevented the players’ families from attending the Champions Trophy in a ploy to keep the players fully focused. 

The players’ spouses will join the side during their three-match ODI series against England, but will return home once the tournament kicks off on 1 June.

‘I think it is a good move not to have family members during the tournament‚ it is a short tournament of only five games in total if you go to the final,’ said captain AB de Villiers at the departure conference. ‘It’s going to be all focus on preparations and the team.’

The Proteas form part of Group B, along with Sri Lanka, Pakistan and India, and the skipper has said that all three teams are quality sides and there will be no easy games.

‘India won the last Champions Trophy in the UK‚ Pakistan have upset a few number of teams and Sri Lanka have played some good cricket as well.

‘There are not going be easy games (but), I do rate our chances in the group.

‘If we play the type of cricket we have played in the last couple of years‚ I believe that no one can stop us in the tournament.’

South Africa’s first game is against Sri Lanka on 3 June at The Oval.

Photo: Lee Warren/Gallo Images