Sports can be a great driving force to create awareness on any topic. And cricket has embraced this side wholeheartedly.
You’ll often notice a few cricket teams bring attention to social causes. Among them is the South African cricket team. Their players wear pink jerseys in one of their home ODIs every year.
But why do South African cricketers wear pink jerseys?
It’s part of an initiative launched by Cricket South Africa (CSA), the country’s governing body. The board dedicates an ODI match under their ‘Pink Day’ initiative.
What’s the ‘Pink Day’ initiative?
The ‘Pink Day’ initiative sheds light on breast cancer. And CSA raises awareness about the disease on the ‘Pink Day’.
The pink colour is associated with breast cancer awareness. It represents those affected by breast cancer.
So you’ll see all South African players and support staff wear pink kits in that particular ODI match. Not only that, the board also encourages the fans to turn up in pink clothes in the stadium. So, you’ll notice the whole stadium painted in pink.
CSA’s initiative goes beyond awareness. The board encourages people to seek early detection of the disease, which can help in better treatment for those affected.
And CSA’s initiative also supports the people affected by breast cancer. They raise funds through ticket sales and donations on the ‘Pink Day’.
The fund is then donated to the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital. The hospital uses the funds for its breast care unit to treat patients suffering from breast cancer.
In the IPL, Gujarat Titans (GT) follow along the same line. Their players take the field in lavender jerseys to create awareness about cancer and its survivors.
When did CSA start the initiative?
CSA has been organising the ‘Pink Day’ initiative since March 2013. South Africa play at least one ODI match in pink jersey at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg.
And their record in these ‘Pink ODIs’ has been phenomenal. Even at the individual level, players have also performed well. Take AB de Villiers, for instance, who smashed a 149-run knock against the West Indies in 2015.
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