South Africa Honour Loved Ones with Specially Designed Shirts at ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024

As the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup gets kicked off, South Africa’s national cricket team, the Proteas, have found a unique way to honour their loved ones. The team will don specially designed playing shirts, featuring the names of up to five important individuals in each player's life, as a tribute to their closest family members and friends.

This heartfelt gesture aims to remind the Proteas of their strong support system as they take the field. The names will be embroidered inside the shirt collars and at the bottom hems, making the connection between the players and their loved ones ever-present, even while playing miles away from home.

Wicketkeeper Sinalo Jafta, one of the key players in the squad, expressed her appreciation for this initiative. “It’s such a special touch,” Jafta said.

“When I look down and see the names of those most important to me, it reminds me to always give my best and remember those who have been there for me from day one.” Jafta pays tribute to her mother and her counsellor, acknowledging their crucial roles in her life and career.

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Captain echoes Jafta

Team captain Laura Wolvaardt, who will lead South Africa for the first time in a T20 World Cup, echoed Jafta’s sentiments. “Carrying a piece of home with me during the tournament gives me strength. I know I’m not alone out there; my loved ones are with me in spirit,” Wolvaardt stated.

The Proteas have embraced the motto, “Always Rising—For Me, For Her, For Them, For All, For South Africa, For The Proteas,” during the tournament. This powerful message serves as a source of motivation for the players, who are determined to go a step further than their runner-up finish in last year’s World Cup, where they fell short against Australia.

South Africa will begin their T20 World Cup 2024 journey in Dubai, facing off against the West Indies on Friday. With their loved ones symbolically stitched into their uniforms, the Proteas are set to take the field with both passion and purpose, aiming to bring the trophy home for their supporters.