South African cricket captain Temba Bavuma found himself at the center of a social media storm after a photograph from the 2023 World Cup Captains Meet circulated online, seemingly capturing him in a moment of slumber during the event in Ahmedabad. However, Bavuma swiftly responded to the viral image, asserting that he had not fallen asleep but rather blamed the camera angle for the misleading perception.
The Captains Meet, attended by the leaders of all 10 participating teams, offered an opportunity for interaction with journalists and broadcasters, setting the stage for the upcoming 2023 World Cup. As South Africa’s representative, Bavuma was present at the gathering.
In response to a tweet from The Barmy Army, who shared the now-famous photo, Bavuma refuted the notion that he had dozed off, stating,
“I blame the camera angle, I wasn’t sleeping.”
While Bavuma’s denial drew some support, numerous fans remained unconvinced, asserting that he had indeed nodded off during the event.
This year’s ICC ODI World Cup marks Bavuma’s inaugural captaincy for South Africa. His team will commence their campaign against former champions Sri Lanka at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on October 7. South Africa’s last 50-over World Cup in India saw them finish at the top of their group’s points table, and cricket enthusiasts are eager to see if Bavuma’s squad can replicate that performance this year.
Before the start of the 2023 World Cup, Bavuma’s side faced New Zealand in a warm-up match, which the Blackcaps won by seven runs via the Duckworth-Lewis method. This defeat serves as a reminder of the competitive challenges awaiting South Africa as they vie for World Cup glory.
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