Cricket in South Africa
Newlands Cricket Ground inCape Town
Country	South Africa
Governing body	Cricket South Africa
National teams	South Africa Men South Africa Women South Africa U-19 Men South Africa U-19 Women South Africa A Men
Nickname	The Proteas
First played	1808
Clubs	6 (SA20)
National competitions
List First Class Cricket CSA 4-Day Domestic Series CSA Provincial Competitions List A Cricket CSA One-Day Cup CSA Provincial Competitions CSA Women's One-Day Cup T20 Cricket CSA T20 Challenge CSA Provincial T20 Cup CSA Women's T20 Challenge Women's T20 Super League
Club competitions
List SA20
International competitions
List Men's national team ICC World Test Championship ICC Cricket World Cup: Semi-finals (1992,1999,2007,2015,2023) ICC World Twenty20: Runners-up (2024) ICC Champions Trophy:Champions (1998) Commonwealth Games:Champions (1998) Men's U-19 national team Under-19 Cricket World Cup:Champions (2014) Women's national team Women's Cricket World Cup: Semi-finals (2000,2017,2022) Women's Cricket World Cup Qualifier:Champions (2008) ICC Women's World Twenty20: Runners-up (2023,2024) Commonwealth Games: Group Stage (2022) Women's U-19 national team Under-19 Women's T20 World Cup: Group Stage (2023)

Cricket is the third most popular sport inSouth Africa (behindfootball andrugby union). Traditionally played by English-speakingWhites,Indians,Coloureds and more recently, theBlack community. The sport is now listed in the top two most popular among all race groups. Since the end ofapartheid, a higher proportion of white players have come fromAfrikaans-speaking backgrounds as well.

Like otherCommonwealth cricket playing nations, the sport was first introduced in South Africa by the British in the early 19th Century, with the game becoming firmly established by the 1880s. Governed byCricket South Africa, both the professional and amateur game possess a high standard of domestic cricket, with the season running from October to March each year.

South Africa is one of the world's leading cricket-playing nations and is one of the 12 countries sanctioned by theInternational Cricket Council to playTest Cricket. In 2012, South Africa became the first team to top the ICC rankings in all three formats of the game.

In 2003, the country hosted theCricket World Cup, and in 2007, the inauguralWorld Twenty20. Along with Namibia and Zimbabwe, South Africa will jointly host the upcoming2027 Cricket World Cup.

In 1814, theCape Colony was formally ceded to Britain by the Dutch after two previous occupations by British forces during theFrench Revolutionary andNapoleonic Wars. It is believed that cricket was first introduced to South Africa during the first occupation, an expedition led by General Sir James Craig. An accompanying officer,Charles Anguish, had been an early member of theMarylebone Cricket Club (MCC), playing 32 first-class matches before he departed for the Cape in 1795. It is supposed that Anguish organised inter-military matches upon his arrival. The earliest definite reference to cricket is dated to 1808, during the second occupation. The Cape Town Gazette and African Advertiser carried a notice that:

"A grand match at cricket will be played for 1,000 dollars aside on Tuesday, January 5, 1808, between the officers of the artillery mess, having Colonel Austen of the60th Regiment, and the officers of the Colony, with General Clavering. The wickets are to be pitched at 10 o'clock."

The first club known to have been formally established was atPort Elizabeth in 1843, with the land allocated still in use today asSt George's Park. In 1876, Port Elizabeth presented the 'Champions Bat', a competition between towns in the Cape; initiallyCape Town,Grahamstown,King William's Town andPort Elizabeth itself, the rudimental beginnings of domestic cricket in South Africa.

The years 1888 and 1889 are pivotal ones for the emergence of modern cricket in South Africa. Two major venues were presented,Newlands in Cape Town and theOld Wanderers inJohannesburg, and an English team arrived for the firstoverseas tour of South Africa. In March 1889, two matches were played between England and South African XI, in what retrospectively would be determined to be both the inaugural Test played by South Africa, and the inauguralfirst-class match played in South Africa. South Africa lost both matches but became the world's third Test nation.^[1]

In December 1889, first-class domestic cricket began, albeit on a challenge only footing, when Port Elizabeth Cricket Club hostedNatal at St George's Park.Sir Donald Currie, the founder of theCastle Shipping Line who had sponsored the English tour, donated a trophy for the domestic champions. The 'Currie Cup' was first awarded toKimberley at the end of the 1889-90 season. From the 1892-93 season, first-class cricket gradually emerged into the more familiar province-based competition in a championship format.^[2]

In 1907,Abe Bailey, the President of the South African Cricket Association, wrote a letter to the Marylebone Cricket Club's secretary,Sir Francis Lacey, and suggested the formation of an 'Imperial Cricket Board'. Responsible for the formulation of rules, regulation and overall governance of international matches played betweenAustralia,England and South Africa. Although Australia initially rejected the arrangement Bailey continued his lobbying, and during Australia's tour of England in 1909, he eventually received agreement. On 15 June 1909, representatives from Australia, England and South Africa met at Lord's and founded theImperial Cricket Conference. Subsequent meetings were held that agreed on rules amongst the nations and the first Tri-Test series was to be held in England in 1912.

TheSouth African War, as well as theFirst World War, disrupted cricket and led to its suspension. After theArmistice in 1918, South African cricket resumed and continuously toured and received visits from England and Australia. Although having a somewhat disappointing period during the 1920s, in the final pre-war decade South Africa became a consistently high-quality and competitive team. During this time, cricket in South Africa began to spread outside the British settler diaspora, particularly in the Afrikaner and Indian communities. However, cricket remained strictly, although not legally, segregated with various national bodies governing cricket for the different racial groups. First-class domestic and international cricket was white only, and would only play other white Test nations (India and the West Indies joined the ICC in 1926).

Suspended once again during theSecond World War, cricket in South Africa resumed after 1945. The introduction ofapartheid (separation of racial groups by strict legal enforcement) following the1948 General Election did not immediately affect the sport, and it continued to prosper and welcome visiting teams.

South Africa left theCommonwealth after a successful 1960 South African republican referendum on 31 May 1961, and by extension, they also left the ICC as membership was entwined. Despite the rules being changed to allow "associate members" in 1964, South Africa did not reapply but continued to play against Australia, England and New Zealand without much difficulty.^[3]

Asdecolonisation accelerated, and international moral public opinion began to change away ideas of racial, particularly white, superiority, South Africa became increasingly isolated. Theanti-apartheid movement demanded that South Africa face boycotts, including in sport. Within the ICC, non-white members, particularlyIndia, protested loudly about the discrimination their own diaspora received in South Africa, including the policies of apartheid which now legally barred non-whites from playing Test cricket for South Africa and the refusal of accepting touring teams that fielded non-whites. In 1970, the ICC banned South Africa from participating in internationally recognised cricket.^[4] This decision, arguably when South Africa was the strongest team in the world, cut short the Test careers of hugely talented players, such asGraeme Pollock,Barry Richards andMike Procter. Many promising players later emigrated in order to play, whilst others never played Test cricket despite strong domestic first-class records.^[5]

The effect of the international boycott had significant impacts on the domestic game and cricket development. Standards, attendances and participation fell, along with South Africa missing out on the revolutionary changes to the game. The beginnings of limited-overs matches, including the newWorld Cup, cost South Africa financially, as well as evolutionary. Although South Africa tried to desegregate cricket in 1976 with the formation of a non-racial governing body, theSouth African Cricket Union (SACU), the ICC maintained their ban.  

Throughout the 1980s,‘Rebel Tours' were sponsored in which international, although not official, teams would tour South Africa playing Test and limited-overs.^[6] Between 1982 and 1990, seven tours were staged by four teams; Australia, England, the West Indies and Sri Lanka. Players joining ‘rebel tours' ran considerable risks to their own careers and reputations, with many facing a limited or lifetime ban from cricket upon their return. As an incentive, at a time when cricketers were not paid a great deal, the SACU offered substantial amounts of money to rebel teams.^[7]

In July 1991, as South Africa negotiated a political way toward majority rule, the ICC reinstated South Africa as a Test nation and authorised the playing of international matches. By November, South Africa had played its first ODI, and first sanctioned match since 1970, against India in Calcutta, before playing their first Test match against theWest Indies in April 1992. During the rest of the decade and early 21st Century, the national side gained a reputation as "chokers" and underachievers due to reaching the semi-finals of the World Cup four times but failing to progress, despite having hugely talented players, such asHansie Cronje, as well as favourable win percentages.^[8] In 1998, South Africa won the inaugural ICC Knockout Trophy in Bangladesh - the tournament was later rebranded as theChampions Trophy. Also in 1998, South Africa defeated Australia in the final of the Commonwealth Games played in Malaysia.^[9] Although South Africa had spent 22 years away from ICC regulated cricket, the national side quickly re-confirmed their place as a highly competitive side, with particular notoriety in fast bowling.

Domestically, cricket in South Africa responded to the political changes that had happened with the election of the ANC in 1994, and the return of South Africa to the Commonwealth of Nations on 1 June 1994 as aCommonwealth republic, particularly the changing of team names in theCastle Cup (formerly Currie). Orange Free State become Free State (1995–96), Eastern Transvaal became Easterns (1995–96), Western Transvaal became North West (1996–97), Transvaal became Gauteng (1997–98), Northern Transvaal became Northerns (1997–98) and Natal became KwaZulu-Natal (1998–99). The competition itself changed name for sponsorship reasons, first becoming the Castle Cup in 1990-91, before being the SuperSport Series in 1996-97.

In the 21st Century, cricket in South Africa has evolved and significantly diversified. In 2004-05, the format of South African domestic cricket changed entirely and broke with the past. The former 11 provincial teams were replaced by six, fully professional, franchise teams.Cape Cobras, the Eagles (later theKnights), theWarriors, theLions, theTitans and theDolphins were created and represented the highest form of domestic cricket, both in first-class and limited-overs. In 2021, domestic cricket returned to the more traditional provincial based format, with 15 first class teams across two divisions.

In July 2006,Ashwell Prince at the age of 29, became the first non-white man to captain the South African cricket team when he deputised forGraeme Smith. Racial quotas were first introduced and later rescinded in 2007, although were re-established in 2016, despite being highly controversial, particularly criticised by the Institute of Race Relations in South Africa.^[10] A South African team must now have an average minimum of six non-white players, of which two must be black African, in matches over the season.^[11] This has led to some highly capable white players emigrating from South Africa claiming they were disadvantaged by discrimination.Kevin Pietersen, who was born inPietermaritzburg, left South Africa to play for England, later becoming one of the world's best batsman.^[12]

Since readmission in 1991, South Africa has been a consistently strong team and the equal of any Test nation. The early 2010s saw a period of Test dominance, achieving top position in the ICC rankings in 2012. Eight days later, in August 2012, South Africa became the first team to top the rankings in all three formats of the game.^[13] The top spot was later regained by South Africa in 2014 after losing it to Australia earlier in the year.

In 2025, South Africa finally ended their long wait for a major global title by winning theICC World Test Championship, shedding the 'choker' label. Defeating Australia by five wickets, South Africa scored the joint-second highest run chase in Test Cricket atLord's.^[14][15]

TheSouth African Women's Team made their Test debut in 1960 against England, becoming the fourth team to play at such a level. The ICC boycott on South African cricket also affected the women's game, with the team not playing an international fixture until 1997. Only 12 ICC Women's Tests have been played by South Africa, winning only once, and the last being played in 2014. As the game has developed, the ODI and T20 have become far more popular and financially rewarding, pushing Women's Test cricket to the edge of viability. Playing their first ODI against Ireland in 1997, South Africa have a 50% win rate, being semi-finalists twice, in the 2000 and 2017 World Cup. In T20, the team first competed in Australia in 2007, and have since played over 100 matches and six World Cups. Being semi-finalists twice, in 2014 and 2020, the team are currently ranked fifth by the ICC, with a win rate of 44%.

Cricket South Africa (CSA) is the governing body for professional and amateurcricket inSouth Africa. In 1991, the separateSouth African Cricket Union and theSouth African Cricket Board merged to form theUnited Cricket Board of South Africa (UCB), ending enforced racial separation governance in South African cricket. Cricket South Africa was formed in 2002 and initially ran parallel to the UCB, before becoming the sole governing body in 2008. As an affiliate of theSouth African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC), a full member of theInternational Cricket Council (ICC) andAfrican Cricket Association, CSA administers all levels of cricket in South Africa, including the national teams in all three formats for both men and women. CSA organises and manages visiting tours to South Africa, as well as administering domestic cricket. A large part of CSA's effort is investing in youth and grassroots development, particularly in deprived areas.^[16]

In recent years, Cricket South Africa has faced a huge amount of internal upheaval and disorganisation that has significantly damaged the reputation of South African cricket at home and abroad, as well as even threatening ICC membership.^[17] In December 2019, CEO Thabang Moroe was suspended pending the outcome of an independent forensic audit, before being dismissed in August 2020 for "serious misconduct".^[18] In September 2020, theSouth African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) announced that they had suspended Cricket South Africa due to "maladministration and malpractices", and had taken over cricket operations in the country. It was later announced that the acting CEO, Kugandrie Govender, would herself be suspended, pending the outcome of a hearing into allegations of misconduct.^[19]

Since the first reports came to light of the severe mismanagement, the organisation has come under heavy criticism from sponsors, players, and the wider cricket community over governance issues. TheInternational Cricket Council has announced it could suspend South Africa due to government interference in the sport, which is against ICC rules.^[20]

National teams of South Africa
South Africa (Men's)	South Africa (Women's)
South Africa U-19 (Men's)	South Africa U-19 (Women's)
South Africa A Men

TheSouth Africa national cricket team is governed by theCricket South Africa (CSA) and is a member of theAfrica Cricket Association (ACA). Since 1909, the CSA has been affiliated withICC, the international governing body for world cricket. In 1997, the CSA became one of the founding members of the ACA.

The following list includes the performance of all of South Africa's national teams at major competitions.

The South African senior national team had several successes and is considered the best team in Africa, and one of the best in world cricket.

• Test: Having hosted and played their first international first-class game against England in 1888-89, South Africa developed into a competitive team by the start of the 20th century. Arguably the best team in the world in 1970 when the ICC imposed an international ban due to apartheid, since readmittance in 1991 South Africa have reasserted themselves as a strong team. Although previously holding the number one position in the international rankings, as of 2025, the Proteas are currently ranked second in the ICC Rankings.^[21]

• ODI: Playing their first One Day International against India soon after readmittance in 1991, South Africa have reached the ODI World Cup Semi-Finals four times, most recently in 2015, but never progressed further. The team's wider fortunes have also fluctuated and as of 2025, currently sit sixth in the ICC ODI Rankings.^[22]
• T20I: South Africa played their first T20I against New Zealand in 2005. Much like the other national squads, the T20I teams' fortunes have varied and have been close to silverware, coming second in 2024, and reaching the semi-finals three times. As of 2025, they are sixth in the ICC T20I Rankings.^[23]

• Test: Making their debut in 1960 against England, the women's team did not play any international fixtures between 1972 and 1997. Despite being the oldest form of women's cricket in South Africa, the Proteas have played just 14 Test matches, with the most recent being in 2024 and winning only one against the Netherlands in 2007. T20 has taken on a far more prominent and financially rewarding role, almost ending women's Test cricket as a viable entity.^[24]

• ODI: The women's team played their first One Day International against Ireland in 1997, and have a current win rate of roughly 50% over nearly 200 matches. Playing in six Women's World Cups, the Proteas have been semi-finalists twice, in 2000 and 2017, although never progressing further. South Africa are currently third in the ICC World ODI rankings.^[25]

• T20I: The Proteas' first T20I was in 2007 against Australia, and have since played over 100 matches. Competing in 6 Women's T20 World Cups, South Africa have been semi-finalists in 2014 and in 2020. Ranked fifth in the ICC table, South Africa have a T20I win rate of 44%.^[26]

• CSA 4-Day Domestic Series
• Three-Day Competition

• CSA One-Day Cup
• One-Day Competition

• SA20
• CSA T20 Challenge
• CSA Provincial T20 Cup

South Africa's first-class competition began in 1889–1890, initially on a challenge only basis rather than a structured championship.Sir Donald Currie, who had sponsored the firstEnglish tour of South Africa earlier that year, donated a trophy for the domestic champions, the Currie Cup. From the 1892-93 season, first-class domestic cricket in South Africa gradually emerged into the more familiar province-based champion season. This competition format, with occasional changes and additions, survived until the 2004/05 season when the domestic structure was remodelled across all three formats to introduce six, entirely professional, franchise teams. The eleven provincial Currie Cup teams, as well as South Western Districts andKwaZulu-Natal Inland, continued to compete separately in theProvincial Three-Day Challenge, which remained a first-class competition, although on a semi-professional level and no longer the top level of red-ball cricket in South Africa.

In 2021, Cricket South Africa announced a return to the traditional province based domestic structure. 15 first-class teams now play in two divisions, determined by promotion and relegation.

Eight teams make up the first division, with 16 contracted players each, and seven teams the second division, with 11 contracted players each, taking the total to 205.

CSA believes that the new format will provide more opportunities for players to compete at a high standard just below international cricket, in turn providing a wider talent pool for the national selectors. It is hoped that wider selection of teams at the highest domestic level will help increase playing opportunities of all races, particularly those currently underrepresented.^[27]

South Africa's major domestic competitions are theCSA 4-Day Series (four dayfirst-class competition) and theMomentum One Day Cup (List Aone-day competition). Division 1 will take part in theMzanzi Super League (T20 competition), whilst Division 2 compete in a separate T20 tournament.^[28]

• CSA Women's One-Day Cup

• CSA Women's T20 Challenge
• Women's T20 Super League

For women, CSA Provincial Cricket is currently the top level of cricket in South Africa, however, it remains semi-professional.^[29] Since 2017, South African women have played in theWomen's T20 Super League. Further developing the women's game at a high level, CSA has said that the competition will allow top performing players from across the under-19s and provincial cricket to continue and improve domestic standards, as well as ultimately strengthening the national limited-over sides. As of 2021, there have not been any reports to indicate women's domestic cricket will be affected by the restructuring announced for the men's game.^[30]

CSA, the sports governing body in South Africa, devotes considerable resources towards youth participation and development. As the vast majority of South African schools do not have the financially expensive, but necessary, cricket support infrastructure in place, CSA provides multiple regional and district programs, often via their Performance Centres. The KFC Mini-Cricket programme is usually the first introduction to cricket that many school children, both boys and girls, will enjoy. Running between the ages of four and thirteen, more than 126,000 school children have participated in this programme, while the number of coaches and schools involved have increased to nearly 14,000 and 7,000 respectively.^[31][32]

National inter-provincial competitions are played at under-13, under-15, under-17 and under-19 levels for boys, and at under-15 and under-19 levels for girls. Through the Talent Acceleration Programme, the best players, particularly those who are disadvantaged, can be selected without any bias against their background. Multiple financial initiatives are available that provide support to deprived young cricketers. From Youth to International progression, CSA nourishes potential talent through various Provincial and Regional Academies, as well as the National Academy and the High-Performance Centre.^[33]

Competition	Edition	Winner	Final	Runners-up	South Africa's position	Venues	Final venue	Stadium
Men's senior competitions
Under-19 Men's Cricket World Cup	1998 Under-19 Cricket World Cup	England	241/6 (50 overs) - 242/3 (46 overs)	New Zealand	Semi-finals	18 (in 14 cities)	Wanderers Stadium
ICC Men's Cricket World Cup	2003 Cricket World Cup	Australia	359/2 (50 overs) – 234 (39.2 overs)	India	Group Stage	15 (in 15 cities)	Wanderers Stadium
ICC Men's T20 World Cup	2007 World Twenty20	India	157/5 (20 overs) – 152 (19.3 overs)	Pakistan	Super 8s	3 (in 3 cities)	Wanderers Stadium
Under-19 Men's Cricket World Cup	2020 Under-19 Cricket World Cup	Bangladesh	177 (47.2 overs) - 170/7 (42.1 overs)	India	Quarter-finals	7 (in 3 cities)	JB Marks Oval
Women's senior competitions
ICC Women's Cricket World Cup	2005 Women's Cricket World Cup	Australia	215/4 (50.0 overs) – 117 (46.0 overs)	India	Group Stage	10 (in 5 cities)	Centurion Park
Women's Cricket World Cup Qualifier	2008 Women's Cricket World Cup Qualifier	South Africa	61 (24.3 overs) – 62/2 (13.4 overs)	Pakistan	Champions	4 (in 2 cities)	Stellenbosch University Ground No. 1
ICC Women's T20 World Cup	2016 ICC Women's World Twenty20	India	68 (17.1 overs) – 69/3 (14 overs)	England	Super 6	3 (in 2 cities)	JB Marks Oval
ICC Women's T20 World Cup	2023 Women's T20 World Cup	Australia	156/6 (20 overs) – 137/6 (20 overs)	South Africa	Runners-up	3 (in 3 cities)	Newlands Cricket Ground

A red box around the year indicates tournaments played withinSouth Africa

Year	League stage										Final Host	Final	Final Position
	Pos	Matches					Ded	PC	Pts	PCT
		P	W	L	D	T
2019–21[34]	5/9	13	5	8	0	0	6	600	264	44	Rose Bowl, England	DNQ	5th
2021–23	3/9	15	8	6	1	0	0	180	100	55.6	The Oval, England	DNQ	3rd
2023–25	1/9	13	9	3	1	0	0	144	100	69.44	Lord's, England	Won	1st

World Cup record
Host and Year	Round	Position	P	W	L	T	NR	Squad
1975[35]	Not eligible, South Africa were banned due toapartheid
1979[36]
1983[37]
1987[38]
1992[39]	Semi-finals	3/9	9	5	4	0	0	Squad
1996[40]	Quarter-final	5/12	6	5	1	0	0	Squad
1999[41]	Semi-finals	3/12	11	7	4	0	0	Squad
2003[42]	Group Stage	8/14	6	3	2	0	1	Squad
2007[43]	Semi-finals	4/16	11	6	5	0	0	Squad
2011[44]	Quarter-final	6/14	7	5	2	0	0	Squad
2015[45]	Semi-finals	4/14	8	5	3	0	0	Squad
2019[46]	Group Stage	7/10	9	3	5	0	1	Squad
2023[47]	Semi-finals	3/14	10	7	3	0	0	Squad
2027[48]	Qualified as co-hosts
2031[49]	Qualification to be decided
Total	0 Titles	-	77	46	29	0	2	-

T20 World Cup record
Host and Year	Round	Position	P	W	L	T	NR	Squad
2007[50]	Super 8s	5/12	5	4	1	0	0	Squad
2009[51]	Semi-finals	3/12	6	5	1	0	0	Squad
2010[52]	Super 8s	6/12	5	2	3	0	0	Squad
2012[53]	Super 8s	8/12	5	2	3	0	0	Squad
2014[54]	Semi-finals	4/16	5	3	2	0	0	Squad
2016[55]	Semi-finals	5/16	4	2	2	0	0	Squad
2021[56]	Super 12s	5/16	5	4	1	0	0	Squad
2022[57]	Super 12s	5/16	5	2	2	1	0	Squad
2024[58]	Runners-up	2/20	9	8	1	0	0	Squad
2026[59]	TBD
2028[60]	TBD
2030[61]	TBD
Total	0 Titles	-	49	32	16	0	1	-

Champions Trophy record
Host and Year	Round	Position	P	W	L	T	NR	Squad
1998[62]	Champions	1/9	3	3	0	0	0	Squad
2000[63]	Semi-finals	4/11	2	1	1	0	0	Squad
2002[64]	Semi-finals	4/12	3	2	1	0	0	Squad
2004[65]	Group stage	6/12	2	1	1	0	0	Squad
2006[66]	Semi-finals	3/12	4	2	2	0	0	Squad
2009[67]	Group stage	7/8	3	1	2	0	0	Squad
2013[68]	Semi-final	4/8	4	1	2	1	0	Squad
2017[69]	Group stage	5/8	3	1	2	0	0	Squad
2025[70]	Semi-final	3/8	4	2	1	1	0	Squad
2029	TBD
Total	1 Titles	-	24	12	11	1	0	-

Commonwealth Games record
Year	Round	Position	P	W	L	T	NR	Squad
1998[71]	Champions	1/16	5	5	0	0	0	Squad
Total	1 Title	-	5	5	0	0	0	-

World Cup record
Year	Round	Position	Played	Won	Lost	Tie	NR
1973	Not eligible, South Africa were banned due toapartheid
1978
1982
1988
1993
1997	Quarter-finals	5/11	6	3	3	0	0
2000	Semi-finals	4/8	8	4	4	0	0
2005	Group Stage	7/8	7	1	4	0	2
2009	Group Stage	8/8	3	0	3	0	0
2013	Super 6s	7/8	9	2	7	0	0
2017	Semi-finals	4/8	8	4	3	0	1
2022	Semi-finals	3/8	8	5	2	0	1
2025
Total	0 Title	-	49	19	26	0	4

T20 World Cup record
Year	Round	Position	Played	Won	Lost	Tie	NR
2009	Group Stage	7/8	3	0	3	0	0
2010	Group Stage	6/8	3	0	3	0	0
2012	Group Stage[72]	7/8	3	1	2	0	0
2014	Semi-finals	4/10	5	3	2	0	0
2016	Group Stage	7/10	4	1	3	0	0
2018	Group Stage	6/10	4	2	2	0	0
2020	Semi-finals	2/10	5	4	0	0	1
2023	Runners-up	2/10	6	3	3	0	0
2024	Runners-up	2/10	6	4	2	0	0
2026
Total	0 Title	-	39	18	20	0	1

Commonwealth Games record
Year	Round	Position	GP	W	L	T	NR
2022	Group Stage	5/8	3	1	2	0	0
Total	0 Title	-	3	1	2	0	0

South Africa's U19 World Cup record
Year	Result	Pos	№	Pld	W	L	T	NR
1988	Ineligible – not an ICC member
1998	Semi-finals	3rd	16	6	5	1	0	0
2000	First round	9th	16	8	5	0	0	3
2002	Runner-up	2nd	16	8	5	3	0	0
2004	Second round	7th	16	6	3	3	0	0
2006	First round	11th	16	5	2	3	0	0
2008	Runner-up	2nd	16	6	4	2	0	0
2010	Quarter-finals	7th	16	6	5	1	0	0
2012	Semi-finals	3rd	16	6	5	1	0	0
2014	Champions	1st	16	6	6	0	0	0
2016	First round	11th	16	6	3	3	0	0
2018	Quarter-finals	5th	16	6	4	2	0	0
2020	Quarter-finals	8th	16	6	3	3	0	0
2022	Qualified
2024	Qualified
Total				75	50	22	0	3

South Africa's U19 Twenty20 World Cup Record
Year	Result	Pos	№	Pld	W	L	T	NR
2023	Super 6	6th	16	5	4	1	0	0
2025	Runner-up	2nd	16	9	7	1	0	1
2027
Total				14	11	2	0	1

Cricket traditionally has been the most popular South African sport for English-speakingwhites, as well as theIndian community, although the latter was not able to compete at the top level during theapartheid era. While the popularity remains high, a larger proportion of white players now come fromAfrikaner-speaking backgrounds, such asHansie Cronje,AB de Villiers,Quinton de Kock,Heinrich Klaasen andFrancois du Plessis, since 1991. As the colour bar was removed from South African sport, from the late 1990s cricket has grown at a substantial rate in other racial groups, particularly black African.Omar Henry became the first Coloured person to play a Test match for South Africa in 1992, withMakhaya Ntini being the first black African in 1998. Originally seen as a game for "white gentlemen" only, the country has since spawned skillful cricketers who are people of colour, such asVernon Philander,Kagiso Rabada,Keshav Maharaj,Tabraiz Shamsi,Reeza Hendricks andLungi Ngidi.

• Sport in South Africa
• Sporting boycott of South Africa during the apartheid era § Cricket

• Brown, Geoff and Hogsbjerg, Christian.Apartheid is not a Game: Remembering the Stop the Seventy Tour campaign. London: Redwords, 2020.ISBN 9781912926589.

• Cricket South Africa web site
• Cricinfo
• South Africa Cricket News
• Cricinfo: South Africa – First-class teams
• Henri Steenkamp (19 October 2015)."The History of Cricket in South Africa". Retrieved17 March 2018.

• Cricket in South Africa
• Sport in South Africa

• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Use South African English from November 2022
• All Wikipedia articles written in South African English
• Use dmy dates from November 2022