WATCH: South African players struggle to pronounce World Cup warm-up venue 'Thiruvananthapuram', video goes viral 

The 2023 ODI World Cup is all set to kick off on October 5 and all 10 participating teams are in their final phase of preparations. With India being the hosts of the tournament, they are considered as one of the main contenders to lift the title. Teams like Australia, New Zealand and Pakistan are also favourites to have a strong campaign. However, South Africa, even if they are not at their peak, have a strong squad that might surprise everyone.

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Ahead of the World Cup, all teams have been allowed to play two warm-up matches to acclimatise to Indian conditions. South Africa's first practice match was against Afghanistan on September 29 at the Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram. But due to rain, the game was abandoned without a single ball being bowled.

The Proteas players were expected to get some warm-up but all they got was extra time to enjoy the beauty of 'God's Own Country'. Meanwhile, before the World Cup, the entire South African squad was given a 'huge task' of pronouncing their warm-up game venue 'Thiruvananthapuram'. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor posted a video on his social media handle where all the players, including the support staff, are seen trying hard to pronounce the capital city of Kerala.

Most of them struggled with the 'tongue twister' but the likes of Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi and South Africa's Indian-origin spin specialist Keshav Maharaj managed to get it almost right. Renowned politician Dr. Tharoor shared the hilarious video on the X platform with a caption: “The South Africans have arrived in Thiruvananthapuram! But can they tell anyone where they are?”

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Watch the video below: 

The South African have arrived in Thiruvananthapuram ! But can they tell anyone where they are? pic.twitter.com/N9LnyVLVH9

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) October 1, 2023

Will rain allow South Africa to warm up?

South Africa will face New Zealand in their second practice match at the same venue on Monday, October 2. Although there are forecasts of rain in the city, they are hoping to get a full game. The Temba Bavuma-led side will begin their ODI World Cup campaign against Sri Lanka at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on October 7.

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South Africa squad for 2023 ODI World Cup: Temba Bavuma (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Aiden Markram, Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), David Miller, Rassie Van der Dussen, Marco Jansen, Andile Phehlukwayo, Gerald Coetzee, Tabraiz Shamsi, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada, Lizaad Williams.