Why are South Africa cricket team known as chokers?

South Africa have appeared at all 18 50-over and T20 World Cups since being reinstated to international cricket in 1991 after the country’s apartheid years, but they have only reached a final once.

That was in last year’s T20 World Cup in the Caribbean where they lost to India by seven runs

South Africa needed 26 runs from 24 balls in pursuit of 177 in Barbados but saw their title hopes derailed following the dismissal of Heinrich Klaasen (52 off 27) and could only score eight runs, instead of the required 16, off the final over.

In total, they’ve lost 10 of their 12 knockout matches across these tournaments and bowed out in the semi-finals on seven occasions.

And then there’s 2003, when South Africa exited their home World Cup in the group stage after a scoreboard miscommunication.

They needed to beat Sri Lanka to progress and, as rain began to fall, word reached batter Mark Boucher that South Africa needed 229 at the end of the 45th over to win. He celebrated after hitting the penultimate ball of the over for six to reach 229, defended the final ball, and the umpires took the players off for rain as expected.

However, 229 was actually the score needed for a tie and with no resumption in play possible, South Africa were eliminated.

Their record isn’t much better in the Champions Trophy. They haven’t returned to the final since being crowned the inaugural winners in Bangladesh in 1998, losing all five of their semi-finals and winning just one of six knockout matches.

South Africa’s knockout struggles aren’t limited to men’s cricket.

The Proteas have been runners-up at the past two Women’s T20 World Cups, losing to New Zealand (2024) and Australia (2023), respectively, and have lost five of their seven semi-finals across 50-over and T20 World Cups.

This article is the latest from BBC Sport’s Ask Me Anything team.