The Proteas team dejected at the T20 World Cup

The Proteas look dejected after losing to the Netherlands. Image: All About Cricket/Twitter

WATCH: Bavuma says Proteas shouldn’t shy away from ‘chokers’ tag

Temba Bavuma hints that Proteas should embrace chokers tag rather than tip-toe around it in order to break curse at major tournaments.

The Proteas team dejected at the T20 World Cup

The Proteas look dejected after losing to the Netherlands. Image: All About Cricket/Twitter

Captain Temba Bavuma has hinted that the Proteas should embrace their ill-famed moniker rather than tip-toe around it in order to break their curse at major tournaments.

The Proteas are universally known as perennial underachievers at cricket World Cups. The team’s underperformance in knockout matches at major tournaments have earned them the tag ‘chokers’.

And following South Africa’s elimination from ICC T20 World Cup after a shock 13-run defeat to the Netherlands on Sunday, dismayed fans took to social media to express their disappointment at team’s capitulation. Soon “#chokers” was the trending topic across several social media platforms.

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To shed chokers tag, Proteas must reach a final

There wasn’t much reaction out of the Proteas camp in the immediate aftermath of the game, but addressing the media upon the team’s arrival in Johannesburg from Australia on Wednesday, Bavuma bravely tackled the issue.

“I don’t believe it’s something we need to shy away from. It’s not something we need to pull water over,” he said.

“The one thing we have to accept as a current group is that we’re going to have to carry the chokers tag again.”

“The way to overcome it is to see to it that you get yourself into a final of an ICC competition and win it,” said Bavuma.

“That’s the only way we’ll shed this. In five years’ time (when South Africa hosts the 2027 50-over World Cup), I hope the guys on duty won’t have to deal with it and that they can achieve something for this nation. 

“As a leader, this tag is something I’ll have to carry too until we do something different.”

Cricket South Africa
Netherlands players celebrate the wicket of Temba Bavuma in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 match between the Proteas and the Netherlands at Adelaide Oval.

Speaking on the team’s early exit from the tournament, CSA Director of Cricket, Enoch Nkwe said: “The reality is that the Team did not perform to expectations, which occasioned this disappointing outcome. It is our duty to regroup and rebuild based on our glaring shortcomings at the T20 World Cup.” 

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CSA Chief Executive Officer, Pholetsi Moseki added: “The Proteas went to the ICC T20 World Cup with high hopes that they would make it to the final. CSA supported the team on their campaign and held high hopes that they will carry through. It is unfortunate that they did not make it as we had all hoped. However, it is incumbent to support them into the future. 

“It is evidently hard for all of us to be faced with this disappointment. However, our focus should be rebuilding the team for future success. Lessons learnt from this experience will be inculcated into strategies to redeem from the weaknesses and build a formidable attack in future.”