Sports can be a powerful tool for raising awareness on issues and cricket has taken this aspect with both hands.
Very often you might see a few cricket teams becoming the voice of social causes. Among these is the team of South Africa, to be more specific, their players put on pink jerseys during one of their home ODIs every year.
Now the question arises, why do the South African cricketers don the pink jerseys? The answer is that it is part of the bigger project that is run by the government body, Cricket South Africa (CSA). The board assigned an ODI match under their ‘Pink Day’ project.
What is the ‘Pink Day’ project all about?
The ‘Pink Day’ project is all about creating awareness of breast cancer. On the ‘Pink Day’, CSA not only raises awareness but also educates people on the disease.
The colour pink is synonymous with breast cancer awareness. It is a symbol of solidarity with all those who are affected by breast cancer.
Thus, you will see all South African players and support staff in pink outfits for that particular ODI match. Moreover, the board also invites the spectators to wear pink clothes in the stadium as a sign of support. As a result, the whole stadium will be in pink.
The initiative by CSA is not just about spreading awareness. The board also motivates people to get themselves checked early if they are in doubt about the disease, as this very step can lead to the affected receiving better treatment.
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The CSA’s project is helping not just the institutions but also the society, as the latter is affected by breast cancer. The cancer patients and other related persons benefit from the hospital through the funds collected via ticket sales and donations on ‘Pink Day.’
Then, the money is sent to the Breast Health Unit of the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, which is the major hospital for breast cancer treatment. The funds support the treatment of patients suffering from breast cancer in the unit.
Gujarat Titans (GT) are in line with this in IPL. Their players wear lavender jerseys in the match to promote awareness about cancer and its survivors.
When did CSA kick off the initiative?
Since March 2013, the CSA has been conducting the ‘Pink Day’ initiative. The ODI match in pink jersey is played at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg where South Africa comes at least once.
And their performance in these ‘Pink ODIs’ has been remarkable. Even on an individual basis, players have done good. For example, AB de Villiers who, in 2015, scored an unbeaten 149 runs against the West Indies.
