2020 3TC Solidarity Cup was a 36-over charity exhibition match featuring 3 teams of 8 players in an experimental format branded 3TeamCricket. It was contested by teams named Eagles, Kingfishers and Kites. The gold medal was awarded to the Eagles, the silver medal was awarded to the Kites, and the bronze medal was awarded to the Kingfishers. The match was held at Centurion Super Sport Parkbehind closed doors on 18 July 2020, coinciding with the Nelson Mandela International Day, which is celebrated in honour of former South African PresidentNelson Mandela. The match marked the return of cricket in South Africa following months of restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and was also the first sporting event to be broadcast on television in the country post lockdown. The match had originally been scheduled for 27 June 2020 but was postponed due as Cricket South Africa could not obtain necessary approvals from the Ministry of Sports. Concerns had been raised over hosting the tournament in Centurion which was seen as a hotspot of infections. The Solidarity Cup's served as a fundraiser for the people who were financially affected due to the coronavirus pandemic. A minute of silence was observed in remembrance of the victims of the pandemic. The match also acknowledged the global Black Lives Matter movement, with players wearing black armbands and taking a knee prior to the start. However the BLM logos were not printed in the jerseys of the players as they were reportedly prepared prior to the George Floyd protests. Graeme Smith, former South African cricket captain and director of Cricket South Africa, offered his support to the BLM movement and promised to take knee along with the players and coaching staff.
Background
South Africa itself had long endured racism and apartheid. 31 South African cricketers and coaching staff signed a petition supporting BLM movement suggestion of cricketer Lungi Ngidi who offered and insisted fellow players to join his efforts in the stand against racism in a message on 6 July 2020. Ngidi insisted that South Africa must take BLM stand like rest of the world. It created a controversy among some of the South African white cricketers such as Boeta Dippenaar, Pat Symcox and Rudi Steyn criticised Ngidi in the Facebook blaming him for not addressing and showing equal solidarity in the fight against murdering of white farmers in the country. However South African Cricketers Association condemned the criticisms on Ngidi and stated the criticism levelled against Ngidi was unfair. On 14 June 2020, around 30 players alleged that racial divide is still available in South African cricket which became a huge talking point prior to the start of the game.
Format
The concept of 3TeamCricket was devised by Paul Harris, former CEO of FirstRand Bank, and launched as a joint-enterprise involving South African rugby union playerFrancois Pienaar and cricket commentator Mark Nicholas. Matches are contested between three teams of eight players, with the team scoring the most runs declared the winner. Each team has an innings of 12 overs, split into two halves, facing a different team with bat and ball in each half. Should the seventh wicket fall, the last batter continues alone. Bowlers are permitted a maximum of 3 overs.
