South African players struggle to say ‘Thiruvananthapuram’
While it was a tongue twister for most of them, the likes of Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi were the only ones who could call it correctly.
The South African cricket team is in India for the ICC World Cup 2023 and has set their base in Thiruvananthapuram. The Proteas have begun training in the capital city of Kerala and will be playing a warm-up game against New Zealand on Monday. Before locking horns with the Black Caps, the South Africans had a fun session in which they were asked to pronounce ‘Thiruvananthapuram’ and a majority of players struggled to do so.
Renowned Indian politician Shashi Tharoor shared the video in which the South African players were asked to spell the name of the city which they are in currently. While it was a tongue twister for most of them, the likes of Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi were the only ones who could call it correctly. After multiple failed attempts, Heinrich Klassen said Trivandrum – the older name of the city – is simpler to speak.
Congress leader Tharoor, who is a Member of Parliament from Thiruvananthapuram, took to the microblogging site X and wrote,
“The South Africans have arrived in Thiruvananthapuram! But can they tell anyone where they are?”
Earlier, the warm-up match between South Africa and Afghanistan at Thiruvananthapuram was abandoned without a ball being bowled on Friday. Heavy rain frustrated both sides who now have one further warm-up to get the plans in order before the tournament gets underway next week.
Meanwhile, Temba Bavuma had to travel home for family reasons and will hope the weather improves in Thiruvananthapuram before their final warm-up against New Zealand on Monday.
Bavuma is expected to rejoin the squad for South Africa’s opening match of the tournament against Sri Lanka in Delhi on October 7.
Afghanistan have a final warm-up against Sri Lanka in Guwahati on Tuesday before opening their tournament against Bangladesh in Dharamshala, also on October 7.
