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Why Are Players Wearing Black Armbands In South Africa vs Australia WTC Final?

Aashay Chopade

SA and AUS players wearing black armbands (Source:@cricanandha/X.com)SA and AUS players wearing black armbands (Source:@cricanandha/X.com)

The stage is set for a thrilling finish to the WTC Final 2025 between South Africa and Australia. The Proteas have a real chance to win the game and the battle on the field has been quite intense. However, ahead of the start of the third day, all the players and officials got together to express their solidarity for the people who lost their lives in the Ahmedabad Air Crash.

The whole Lord's Cricket Ground observed a moment of silence just before the start of the third day to express their grief. All the players are wearing black armbands for the same and the similar gesture was also seen in the Intra-squad match between India and India A.

The Air Crash happened in the afternoon of June 12 when the London-bound flight from Ahmedabad took off. It all happened in the matter of just 40 seconds and 241 people on the flight lost their lives with only one survival. The casualties in the plane crash are from different nationalities and the tragedy has shocked the whole world.

South Africa Eye WTC Title Amidst Off-Field Tragedy

Talking about WTC final, it is also happening in London and the black band used by players is a gesture to respect the mood in that country. On the field though, both the teams are fighting hard and the match is likely to end on the third day itself.

At the start of day 3, Australia had a lead of 218 runs with two wickets in hand and it has been a roller-coaster of a match with both teams exchanging punches throughout the course of the game.

The Proteas now need to wrap the Australian innings quickly and would have to bat well in the final innings to chase down the target of over 200, which has been done only four times before at the Lord's.