Aiden Markram wants to step up and lead from the front in T20Is against Ireland

Markram will resume captaincy duties in the shortest format after leading the Proteas to the T20 World final in the Caribbean earlier this year.

It will however be a different squad that took part in the global tournament, with plenty of fresh faces being given opportunities to impress as the Proteas look to grow depth in white-ball cricket.

After two low returns to kickoff the 50-over matches against Afghanistan, Markram struck an unbeaten 69 to lead the Proteas to a consolation victory in Sharjah.

The T20 skipper however insists he does not feel any additional pressure on the senior players to perform with plenty of rookies in the starting-lineup.

"I wouldn't say we feel extra pressure. We are all highly competitive people as South Africans and as sportsman it's never nice to lose," Markram said.

"So when things don't go according to plan, you as an experienced player obviously do look at it deeper - how you as an individual player could have made a better difference in the game to hopefully change the result.

"Going into the series (against Ireland), there isn't that feeling of additional pressure, but definitely that feeling of wanting to step up if you have a bit more experience, to lead from the front and show the way forward to the guys who are a bit younger and newer."

After the humbling against Afghanistan, there is also no chance that the Proteas will take Ireland lightly and Markram complimented the European team's growth in world cricket.

The Proteas will play three ODIs against Ireland in Abu Dhabi following the two T20I clashes.

Markram said: "They have become a really good team in world cricket and are capable of beating any team at the moment. So they must get a lot of credit for their growth.

"For us to nullify their threats, it will come down to our planning... trying to identify areas in each innings where we may be able to get one up on them.

"Generally, it is small margins that can win or lose games. So if we can identify that from a planning point of view, we give ourselves the best chance to get it right on the field."

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