‘I was walking away from cricket’ – Star South Africa batter on her fight with alcoholism before Women’s 20-20 World Cup

South Africa’s women’s team lost the Women’s 20-20 World Cup final against the World champions Australia on Sunday, February 26 at the Newlands, Cape Town. This was the first-ever final for the Proteas senior team, whether we talk about men or women.

After losing the final, the hosts’ wicketkeeper-batter Sinalo Jafta opened up about her struggle with alcoholism which almost forced her to leave cricket.

“Two months ago, I came out of rehab. I’ve got God to thank for my sobriety, and the team have been so supportive. I came out on December 8, and for me to get fit, to play… hectic. What a journey. The person you get on the field is someone who gets on their knees every day. I am not in control of anything. God is always in control,” Jafta was quoted as saying in The Indian Express.

She further told that the social media criticism pushed her to alcoholism.

“Social media, it doesn’t support you. You have a really tough day and people just bullet you. That sent me over the edge. It just wouldn’t stop. I remember coming back from the Commonwealth Games [in August] and everything just broke. I lost who I was,” she added.

I can say I have a career ahead of me: Sinalo Jafta

The South Africa-born cricketer thanked her mother who helped her to come out of this in a 56-day treatment. Her mother is a single parent, who looked after her and her brother since childhood. She is working as a teacher.

“My mom [Lumka Jafta] was one of the people who supported me through it, and the team doctor and the management gave me two months’ medical leave. I was in treatment for 56 days. I learnt the best about myself. People are allowed to have their opinions but it doesn’t define who I am,” the wicketkeeper-batter said.

Jafta, who led her team to four dismissals throughout the competition, revealed she had taken the decision to give up cricket when she started her treatment in October. Yet she ended on a good note, adding that she can now see her career ahead of her.

“I was walking away from cricket. October 7 is when I made the decision I was going to go into treatment. I was done. I felt like I had nothing left to give. I was 27. I was done. Now, as a 28-year-old, I’ve got my career ahead of me. The fact that I can say I have a career ahead of me,” the 28-year-old revealed.