[In Pics] South Africa return home to resounding welcome after WTC triumph
South Africa defeated Australia in the WTC Final 2025 by five wickets at Lord's Cricket Ground on Saturday, June 14.
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The South African cricket team returned home to a hero’s welcome at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport on the morning of Wednesday, June 18, after clinching the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 title.
They were greeted by South Africa’s Minister of Sport, Gayton McKenzie, along with a large crowd. Among the well-wishers were children and students from players’ former schools such as Aiden Markram’s alma mater, Pretoria Boys High School, and family members, including Wiaan Mulder’s brother.
The players took time to sign autographs, pose for photographs, and receive flowers and warm embraces. They dressed in custom-made ‘Champions’ t-shirts, and later made their way to Cricket South Africa’s offices in the northern part of the city, where they were welcomed with a brass band, red carpet, and enthusiastic celebrations.
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1.2K100"It is quite overwhelming. We haven't seen people like that at the airport before. As players, you don't really realise what you've done but when you start to interact with people and see the emotion, it gives you a proper insight into what we've done,” Temba Bavuma said in the press conference.
“We are proud as a team but we are even more happy and proud that we've made our people proud. If you look at this team and the guys at the helm, we have done it the proper South African way. That's unique to this group. We have embraced everything that it means to be South African," he added.
The Proteas' triumph in WTC 2023-25 cycle was a testament to true team effort, with nine different players earning Player of the Match honors and 15 players either scoring a century or taking a five-wicket haul. The skipper emphasized that the victory was not just for the team or sportspeople, but for every South African.
"What we've achieved speaks to all budding cricketers out there, and individuals within South Africa. As a team, we've got a story. It hasn't been a simple or easy one. We've come through a lot but we managed to get to where we are. So similarly for them (ordinary people) on their quest and journey, for what they want to achieve: as long as they keep having that passion and keep pushing they can also achieve what people think is unachievable," Bavuma said.
We want to carry on with the momentum: Bavuma
Enoch Nkwe was appointed as Director of Cricket in July 2022, and Shukri Conrad will serve as head coach across formats, including white-ball cricket, until the end of the 2027 ODI World Cup, set to be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. Bavuma will likely lead the ODI side and has expressed hope that the team can finally lift the trophy on home soil.
"We want to carry on with the momentum we've gained. We are quietly optimistic as to what can happen in the white-ball space. We see no reason as to why we can't emulate what we've done here. We are more optimistic than anything. We had a little conversation about it. Shukri's mind is always ticking. He lets you know that there's always some sort of work you need to do," Bavuma said.
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