In a delightful twist of events during their ICC World Cup 2023 campaign in India, the South African cricket team found themselves grappling with a linguistic challenge. Nestled in the serene capital city of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, the Proteas embarked on a training regimen ahead of their warm-up game against New Zealand, but not without a touch of humor.
The fun-filled session, which quickly went viral, involved an amusing attempt by the South African players to pronounce the name of their current base – Thiruvananthapuram. For most of them, this tongue twister proved to be quite the vocal hurdle. R
enowned Indian politician and Member of Parliament from Thiruvananthapuram, Shashi Tharoor, captured the lighthearted moment and shared it on social media.
In the viral video, South African players could be seen struggling to articulate the city’s name correctly. However, amidst the playful banter, a few players emerged as linguistic champions. Notably, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, and Lungi Ngidi exhibited remarkable pronunciation skills and effortlessly called it by its rightful name.
Heinrich Klassen, after multiple unsuccessful attempts, humorously suggested that the older name of the city, Trivandrum, was simpler to speak. This reference to the city’s previous moniker added an endearing touch to the playful exchange.
Shashi Tharoor, well-known for his command over the English language and his witty wordplay, took to his microblogging platform of choice to share the video. His tweet playfully queried whether the South African cricket team could accurately identify their location, adding an element of humor to the situation.
The lighthearted interaction between the South African cricket team and the city of Thiruvananthapuram highlights the charm of cultural exchanges that often occur during international sporting events.
WATCH: SA players struggles to pronounce Thiruvananthapuram
While the Proteas may have initially stumbled over the pronunciation of this Indian city’s name, their sportsmanship and willingness to embrace the local culture undoubtedly endeared them to fans both in India and around the world.
As the ICC World Cup 2023 unfolds, moments like these serve as a reminder that sports not only transcend borders but also create opportunities for delightful cross-cultural connections. The South African cricket team’s journey in Thiruvananthapuram will undoubtedly be remembered for more than just their performance on the field, adding a touch of levity to the global cricketing spectacle.