The ODI World Cup 2023 is just around the corner, and the leaders of all 10 participating teams gathered in Ahmedabad for the captains’ meet on Wednesday, October 4. This highly anticipated event provided an opportunity for the skippers to interact with journalists and broadcasters, namely Ravi Shastri and Eoin Morgan, in a special gathering.
While the meet was expected to be a forum for discussing cricket strategies and sharing camaraderie, South Africa’s skipper, Temba Bavuma, found himself at the centre of an unexpected controversy. A photograph allegedly capturing Bavuma sleeping during the event went viral on various social media platforms, causing a stir among cricket fans worldwide.
Bavuma clears the air surrounding his viral picture
Responding to the viral image, Bavuma took to social media to clarify that he was not asleep during the captains’ meet. The Barmy Army, a prominent cricket supporters’ group, had shared the photo in question on X (formerly Twitter), prompting Bavuma to respond.
“I blame the camera angle, I wasn’t sleeping,” Bavuma replied while addressing the controversy directly.
Also READ: Why there is no opening ceremony for the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2023?
I blame the camera angle, I wasn’t sleeping 🤦🏽♂️
— Temba Bavuma (@TembaBavuma) October 4, 2023
No Home Advantage in India
During the captains’ meet, Bavuma also faced questions about whether South African players have an advantage due to their experience of playing in India. With many players in the current squad having competed on Indian soil, some wondered if this would give South Africa an edge.
In response to this, Bavuma downplayed any notion of a unique advantage, stating, “I think that’s something that is relevant to all the teams. A lot of the teams have guys who played in India, have done well in India, so I wouldn’t really say it’s an advantage for us. I think all we could do is for the guys who have that experience and knowledge; they can share it among the team or use it in terms of our strategies and plans. But I wouldn’t really say it’s an advantage unique to us as a team.”
