As South Africa reaches T20 World Cup final, a revisit on its painful past at ICC events

South Africa’s triumph at T20 world cup 2024 semifinal, wiped off years of heartache and the trauma of being labelled under-performers despite having some of international cricket’s biggest names in the line-up.

South Africa and World Cup semifinals used to be a sporting tragedy of Shakepearean proportions. Not anymore.

Shedding the unwanted tag of perennial "chokers" the Proteas marched into their maiden T20 World Cup final unbeaten in Tarouba, Trinidad, comfortably beating tournament giant-slayers Afghanistan.

The triumph wiped off years of heartache and the trauma of being labelled under-performers despite having some of international cricket's biggest names in the line-up.

PTI takes a look at the Proteas' tormented past when they failed to get over the line at key junctures in global events.

Not quite a choke but just bad luck. Emerging after 22 years of exile following the end of apartheid in the country, South Africa had everything going for them, their lightening quick bowlers were excelling, their fielders affected sensational run-outs.

However, in the semifinal, rain came and the equation went from a reasonably gettable 22 off 7 balls to 22 off just one ball, thanks to a miscommunication on their revised target.

Having won all their group games, Hansie Cronje and his men started firm favourites against West Indies in the quarterfinal. But Brian Lara played an absolute blinder while spinners Roger Harper and Jimmy Adams spun a web to inflict a 19-run defeat on the Proteas.