XtraTime Web Desk: Cricket in South Africa returned with the 3Team Cricket at the Super Sport Park in Centurion on Saturday. The Solidarity Cup is Cricket South Africa’s response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and introduces a complex but exciting ‘3TC’ format. All the cricketers taking part along with the CSA Director of Cricket Graeme Smith took the knee before the start of the match. The cricketers were seen sporting the Black Lives Matter arm band to show their support towards the global BLM movement.
The Black Lives Matter movement has gained massive traction in South African cricket after Proteas fast bowler Lungi Ngidi stated that he would educate and bring the message forward in Proteas the dressing room.
Proteas ODI captain Quinton de Kock decided to pull out of the event at the last moment citing personal reasons. Earlier on Friday Proteas batsman Reeza Hendricks replaced Heinrich Klaasen as captain of the Kingfishers team after CSA “recognised and acknowledged the importance to walk the talk in matters of transformation”.
The 3TC match is contested between three teams of eight players each. The match is played over 36 overs in two halves of 18 overs with a break at halftime.In the second half, teams bat in order of the highest scores in the first half. If scores are tied, the first half order is reversed.