South Africa vs India: The curious case of Oscar, the cameraman in a suit

In a Test match as happening as the one between India and South Africa at Newlands, one man who isn’t even a cricketer managed to catch the eye of the spectators and viewers alike. Breaking all stereotypes and dress codes is the cameraman Oscar, dressed in a three-piece suit and tie stealing the show on the first two days of the Test in Cape Town.

As stylish as Hardik Pandya looked when he struck 14 boundaries and a six during his valiant 93, the man tracking each and every stroke of his was stylish in a way too. When the Indian all-rounder returned with the ball in hand, Oscar was again ready to shoot India’s fight back.

Why was he wearing a suit was something everyone started to wonder every time he was on screen much to the amusement of the fans at Newlands. Back home as the cold-wave grips the country, it made sense to be covered on the field. However, that is not the reason for his in-vogue dressing style. In a video posted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) titled “Cameraman Oscar – The story behind his suit”, he revealed “the secret behind his smart attire”.

Zotani Oscar, the TV cameraman for a leading South African TV channel, revealed how this idea originated and why he held on to that practice. He said, “In the season of 2007-08, when New Zealand was here (in South Africa). It happened that one of the cameramen got sick, while I was still working in the studio.”

“Then my former technical director, asked me to help out, with the other guy having to leave. Then I went wearing a suit and a tie. And from thereon he said he wanted to see me wearing that in every Test match. So it started like that. I only do it on the first day, when there is no chance of me to pull rigs, to pull cameras,” he said.

Watch him here:

Cameraman Oscar – The story behind his suit – by @28anand

Dressed in a formal suit, cameraman Oscar’s presence during a Test match in South Africa is hard to miss. But what is the secret behind his smart attire? Watch the full video on https://t.co/CPALMGgLOj pic.twitter.com/GlRFUjpYCs

— BCCI (@BCCI) January 7, 2018

He added mentioned that contrary to popular opinion, he is more comfortable wearing a suit rather than leaving his skin bare to the elements, something he says the crowds really enjoy.

“I actually fell more comfortable wearing a suit rather than having to expose my skin to the sun. People started by laughing at me, but now it actually excites them. I usually get good complements from my fellow commentators, Pommie Mbangwa and Kepler Wessels,” he said.

Oscar also revealed that the suit he was wearing was bought from Kolkata after a recommendation from former Zimbabwe cricketer and commentator, Pommie Mbangwa.

“Actually, this suit, I got it from Kolkata from a tailor, whose name I am forgetting. He was recommended by Pommie.”

“This is Test match cricket, and I like it in a suit, because it is for the love of the game,” he signed off.