South Africa was among the first countries to play Test cricket, having played their first international match in 1888–1889. However, the team could not rival Australia or England at that time, but by the early 1900s, they had amassed sufficient expertise and understanding to build a competitive side. The team played against Australia, England, and New Zealand regularly until there was a widespread protest against the nation’s apartheid system.
Subsequently, the International Cricket Council (ICC) banned the team internationally in line with measures undertaken by other international sports organisations as well. South Africa had progressed to a stage when their squad was undoubtedly the finest in the world and had even surpassed Australia when the ban was put in place.
The embargo was in effect until 1991, post which South Africa played their initial matches against Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, and the West Indies. Since its return, the team has performed admirably and has several times been ranked number one globally.
South Africa, with almost 61% of their matches won, is also among the most dominant squads in ODI cricket. In the 1998 Commonwealth Games, South Africa also took home the gold medal.
Over the last couple of decades, the side has been blessed with some of the finest athletes but still, it has yet to win an ICC tournament. The nation hosted the 50-over World Cup in 2003 and is set to host once again in 2027.
In the ongoing ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, the Proteas are one of the sides that have been doing well throughout the campaign. In nine matches, the team scored 14 points and is now set to play Australia in the semi-final.
South Africans were always fond of cricket, after returning from exile in the early 1990s, Dr Ali Bacher, manager of the Proteas’ India tour in 1991, offered to pay $40,000 per match to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for its telecast back home. The Indian apex cricket board, unaware of how much to charge, made a demand of $30,000 for the entire series when Dr Bacher initially asked for a price.
The constant support of the enthusiasts to the South African cricket team helped Cricket South Africa (CSA) attract some of the biggest corporations as sponsors. Let’s take a look at South Africa’s sponsors for the current elite cricket event as it approaches the final stages:
Team Sponsor:
Momentum Health: Momentum Health, one of South Africa’s most reputable medical assistance schemes, guides consumers in finding the best economical medical aid solution to meet any individual or family needs, with unparalleled advantages.
Amul (ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023): Amul, India’s top food product marketing organisation, was formed in 1946 and has an $8 billion annual brand revenue. In India, Amul has 79 sales offices, 10,000 dealers, and over a million merchants.
Headline Event Sponsor:
KFC: Kentucky Fried Chicken, commonly known as KFC, is an American fast food restaurant chain that is the globe’s second-largest restaurant chain, with over 22,621 outlets worldwide in 150 countries.
Betway: Established in 2006, Betway is one of the globe’s biggest online betting and gaming organisations, operating in a variety of regulated areas throughout the world.
Official Sponsors:
Castore: Castore was created in 2015 and currently distributes its goods in more than 50 nations worldwide. The company’s goal is to provide the simplest, most durable, and highest-performing sportswear in the market today.
Castle Lager: Castle Lager is a pale lager from South Africa. It is the most popular offering of South African brewers and is regarded as the country’s national beer as a result of the reason that it originates from and is manufactured entirely in South Africa.
Official Technical Partner:
Lotto Sport: Lotto Sport is an Italian athletic products business based in Trevignano. The firm manufactures and sells sportswear and leisure footwear, such as football boots and trainers. Its apparel assortment includes t-shirts, jackets, shorts, leggings and goalkeeper equipment.
Official Suppliers:
BitCo Telecom: BitCo is a South African company that offers business communications services to other businesses. It provides fibre-optic and wireless internet connectivity with speeds up to 1Gbps, as well as bundled plans.
Kemach JCB: Kemach maintains an extensive selection of high-quality equipment for a diverse range of applications. The brand, which focuses on dealers of distinctive equipment and services, always works to place the customer at the centre of its operations, engrossed in satisfying each client’s specific demands. The firm operates throughout South Africa.
Springbok Atlas: Springbok Atlas is a South African inbound trip company that is dedicated to making its clients’ Africa travel plans come true. It offers supervised Africa tours and safaris, day excursions, and tailor-made trips throughout South Africa and its neighbouring countries.
Sunfoil: Willowton Group, Sunfoil’s parent firm, has been in business since 1970 and has evolved to become one of Africa’s largest edible oil producers as well as a major player in the South African FMCG sector.