50th Proteas Women’s T20 cap a sobering reminder of Sinalo Jafta’s remarkable achievements

Proteas Women’s wicket-keeper went through a dark period in her life when she battled an alcohol addiction. But, after getting her life and career back on track, she will celebrate two special milestones at the ICC T20 Women’s World Cup.

Jafta made the most remarkable comeback to cricket during the 2023 T20 World Cup on home soil after beating her addiction and playing her part in the team’s run to the final.

On Saturday, Jafta will play her 50th T20 International for the Proteas when they take on a Bangladesh in a do-or-die encounter at the current T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates. But Saturday, October 12, 2024 is also the second anniversary of her sobriety. A wonderful achievement for one of the game’s most likeable characters.

“Tomorrow is a special day, both in cricket and in my personal life. I mean, tomorrow I’m also two years sober. So it’s a really exciting day,” Jafta told reporters ahead of the match.

“If I look back at some point, I thought I lost my career and to walk out in a World Cup game and potentially have my 50th cap, I think no one could have ever predicted that. That’s not all on me. It’s always he (God) who knows at the end of the day.”