In the next days, the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 will begin, pitting ten nations against one another in an effort to win the coveted trophy. South Africa is once again considered one of the “dark horses” entering the competition and will be a formidable opponent for all other teams. Prior to their match against New Zealand on Monday, October 2, the Proteas have landed in Thiruvananthapuram for their second warm-up game.
Before the game, the entire South African team tried to say “Thiruvananthapuram,” which resulted in a number of amusing pronunciations of the Indian State. A number of South African celebrities, including David Miller, Rassie van der Dussen, Kagiso Rabada, and Heinrich Klaasen, attempted to say the word correctly in one go, but their tedious attempts had everyone in splits.
Watch the video here:
The South African have arrived in Thiruvananthapuram ! But can they tell anyone where they are? pic.twitter.com/N9LnyVLVH9
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) October 1, 2023
The first warm-up match between South Africa and Afghanistan was called off before a ball was bowled. To complete their preparations for the league match, they will then face off against New Zealand. On October 7 at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium, the Temba Bavuma-led team will play its first game against Sri Lanka.
South Africa is yet to claim their first World Cup victory.
Notably, the Rainbow nation has failed to lift their first World Cup championship despite multiple chances to do so. Due to an odd rain regulation in 1992, they were eliminated in the semi-finals, and in 1996, they were eliminated in the quarter-finals. Additionally, they lost to the same opponents in both the 2007 final and the sad encounter they played against Australia in the semi-final in 1999.
After losing to New Zealand in the quarterfinals of the 2011 edition, they were eliminated from the tournament, and the Kiwis later eliminated them from the 2015 edition after a dramatic semi-final. The Proteas will be eager to finally end their trophy drought by winning the forthcoming edition because they have yet to win the prestigious silverware.
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