---
title: "Proteas return home as ICC World Test champions: A hero’s welcome at OR Tambo"
description: "The South African men’s cricket team touched down at OR Tambo International Airport to a great reception after claiming the ICC World Test Championship title. Fans, family, and officials gathered to celebrate the Proteas’ historic triumph and to glimpse the coveted Mace in South African hands."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "PHOTO ESSAY"
author: "Daily Maverick Photo Team"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/photo-team/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-06-18-proteas-arrive/"
published: "2025-06-18T14:05:12"
updated: "2025-06-18T20:39:27"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 403
---

# Proteas return home as ICC World Test champions: A hero’s welcome at OR Tambo

> The South African men’s cricket team touched down at OR Tambo International Airport to a great reception after claiming the ICC World Test Championship title. Fans, family, and officials gathered to celebrate the Proteas’ historic triumph and to glimpse the coveted Mace in South African hands.

By Daily Maverick Photo Team · Published 18 June 2025, 16:05 SAST · Updated 18 June 2025, 22:39 SAST

## Key points
- As Temba Bavuma and his cricketing comrades touched down at OR Tambo, the airport transformed into a mini-stadium, complete with flag-waving fans and the unmistakable glint of the ICC World Test Championship Mace, proving once again that in South Africa, victory is always a team effort—on and off the field.
- Temba Bavuma and the South African cricket team received a warm welcome upon their arrival at OR Tambo International Airport on June 18, 2025.
- Fans showed their support by waving flags and holding placards, celebrating the team's achievements.
- Players, including Lungi Ngidi and Wiaan Mulder, engaged with supporters, signing autographs and sharing moments.
- Bavuma proudly displayed the ICC World Test Championship Mace, symbolizing the team's recent success.

## Content

![Temba Bavuma interacts with supporters during the South Africa men's national cricket team arrival at OR Tambo International Airport on June 18, 2025 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Gallo Images/Alet Pretorius)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/dei8AOuMGMHQP-sQuiW3MsJgCTk=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ED_561625.jpg)

*Temba Bavuma interacts with supporters during the South Africa men's national cricket team arrival at OR Tambo International Airport on June 18, 2025 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Gallo Images/Alet Pretorius)*

![Supporters waving South African flags and holding placards during the South Africa men's national cricket team arrival at OR Tambo International Airport on June 18, 2025 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Gallo Images/Alet Pretorius)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/rqIyXN4hD6foyTGrPwF46Ab-zrU=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ED_561633.jpg)

*Supporters waving South African flags and holding placards during the South Africa men's national cricket team arrival at OR Tambo International Airport on June 18, 2025 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Gallo Images/Alet Pretorius)*

![Lungi Ngidi interacts with a fan during the South Africa men's national cricket team arrival at OR Tambo International Airport on June 18, 2025 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Gallo Images/Alet Pretorius)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/x4SVdc8Hg947JjVDSWrkGjzJMeI=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ED_561623.jpg)

*Lungi Ngidi interacts with a fan during the South Africa men's national cricket team arrival at OR Tambo International Airport on June 18, 2025 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Gallo Images/Alet Pretorius)*

![Supporters waving South African flags and holding placards during the South Africa men's national cricket team arrival at OR Tambo International Airport on June 18, 2025 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Gallo Images/Alet Pretorius)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/odNCLFmhNjCnRYqwh8M9bvxEhsI=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ED_561639.jpg)

*Supporters waving South African flags and holding placards during the South Africa men's national cricket team arrival at OR Tambo International Airport on June 18, 2025 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Gallo Images/Alet Pretorius)*

![Proteas fans during the South Africa men's national cricket team arrival at OR Tambo International Airport on June 18, 2025 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by OJ Koloti/Gallo Images)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/l3_U9I4BEI73pJKsI2reyD-fl_U=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/TL_2411658.jpg)

*Proteas fans during the South Africa men's national cricket team arrival at OR Tambo International Airport on June 18, 2025 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by OJ Koloti/Gallo Images)*

![Gayton McKenzie (Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture of South Africa) during the South Africa men's national cricket team arrival at OR Tambo International Airport on June 18, 2025 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by OJ Koloti/Gallo Images)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/RFcf90iROm9Bpa-DDyMrSw0U1RY=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/TL_2411673.jpg)

*Gayton McKenzie (Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture of South Africa) during the South Africa men's national cricket team arrival at OR Tambo International Airport on June 18, 2025 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by OJ Koloti/Gallo Images)*

![Proteas fans during the South Africa men's national cricket team arrival at OR Tambo International Airport on June 18, 2025 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by OJ Koloti/Gallo Images)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/8-ZsMjL4hahj9DrJmyCGbZyY29Y=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/TL_2411681.jpg)

*Proteas fans during the South Africa men's national cricket team arrival at OR Tambo International Airport on June 18, 2025 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by OJ Koloti/Gallo Images)*

![Gayton McKenzie (Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture of South Africa) with Proteas team during the South Africa men's national cricket team arrival at OR Tambo International Airport on June 18, 2025 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by OJ Koloti/Gallo Images)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/hBrTy4et1EQN40u826gMgE2Bii4=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/TL_2411693.jpg)

*Gayton McKenzie (Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture of South Africa) with Proteas team during the South Africa men's national cricket team arrival at OR Tambo International Airport on June 18, 2025 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by OJ Koloti/Gallo Images)*

![Wiaan Mulder signing autographs during the South Africa men's national cricket team arrival at OR Tambo International Airport on June 18, 2025 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Gallo Images/Alet Pretorius)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/-KHTxAbkNKbOYgjevdlgnkvX3jc=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ED_561628.jpg)

*Wiaan Mulder signing autographs during the South Africa men's national cricket team arrival at OR Tambo International Airport on June 18, 2025 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Gallo Images/Alet Pretorius)*

![Marco Jansen signing autographs during the South Africa men's national cricket team arrival at OR Tambo International Airport on June 18, 2025 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Gallo Images/Alet Pretorius)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/2fJek2vHGZ92rQuxSBl-GiobudM=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ED_561619.jpg)

*Marco Jansen signing autographs during the South Africa men's national cricket team arrival at OR Tambo International Airport on June 18, 2025 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Gallo Images/Alet Pretorius)*

![Temba Bavuma interacts with supporters during the South Africa men's national cricket team arrival at OR Tambo International Airport on June 18, 2025 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Gallo Images/Alet Pretorius)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/2Fdnfgdzz3xQh3JLuRPVWOX7Yzs=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ED_561617.jpg)

*Temba Bavuma interacts with supporters during the South Africa men's national cricket team arrival at OR Tambo International Airport on June 18, 2025 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Gallo Images/Alet Pretorius)*

![Temba Bavuma with the ICC World Test Championship Mace during the South Africa men's national cricket team arrival at OR Tambo International Airport on June 18, 2025 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Gallo Images/Alet Pretorius)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/zIwW9iF1uDFuggltQByMTLVQtnc=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ED_561635.jpg)

*Temba Bavuma with the ICC World Test Championship Mace during the South Africa men's national cricket team arrival at OR Tambo International Airport on June 18, 2025 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Gallo Images/Alet Pretorius) DM*