Being able to play cricket for their national teams is everyone’s dream. Everyone does not have a common name in cricket, as many foreign players have long names, and it is difficult for everyone to pronounce their names. Even the commentators think twice before saying their names on TV as it might offend someone, so they generally call the cricketers whose names are hard to pronounce by their nick names or they make the short names themselves for the specific player. Below is a list of cricketers whose names are hard to pronounce:
1. Pommie Mbangwa
Mpumelelo "Pommie" Mbangwa (born June 26, 1976) is a former Zimbabwean cricketer who played for Zimbabwe in all formats of cricket. He is a right-arm fast-medium bowler. He was not very successful as a cricketer, but he became an amazing commentator and still does the commentary. People generally call him "Pom" or "Pommie" because no one can pronounce his name correctly. The spelling of his name starts with M, but no one knew that the M was silent in his name. When they used to play back in his days, his friend Gavin Rennie gave him the nickname nick name as everyone had trouble calling him by his name.
2. Lonwabo Tsotsobe
Lonwabo Lennox Tsotsobe (born March 7, 1984) is a former South African cricketer who played for South Africa in all formats of cricket. He is a left-arm fast-medium bowler. He played for his national team from 2009 to 2014. He was involved in match-related corruption and was banned from playing cricket for eight years in 2016. During his games, it was hard for his teammates to pronounce his name correctly, so they gave him the nick name Lopsy." After that, even the commentators started calling him Lopsy as it was easier to pronounce.
3. Chaminda Vaas
Warnakulasuriya Patabendige Ushantha Joseph Chaminda Vaas (born January 27, 1974) is a former Sri Lankan cricketer who played for South Africa in all formats of cricket from 1994 to 2009. He is a right-arm fast-medium bowler. Apart from his amazing bowling skills, he is also famous for having one of the longest names in the history of cricket. It was hard for his friends and the leaders to pronounce his name, so they started calling him "Vasy." It was easy to pronounce, and Vaas had no issue with his friends calling him by that name.
4. Thisara Perera
Narangoda Liyanaarachchige Thisara Chirantha Perera (born April 3, 1989) is a former Sri Lankan player who played for Sri Lanka in all formats of cricket. He is known for his excellent on-field performance as an all-rounder. He is a left-handed batter and a right-arm medium-fast bowler. Apart from his brilliant on-field performance, along with Vaas, he is also famous for having one of the longest names in the history of cricket. His friends generally call him "Panda" or "TP."
5. Faoud Bacchus
Sheik Faoud Ahamul Fasiel Bacchus (born January 31, 1954) is a former Guyanan cricketer who played for the West Indies and the United States in all formats of cricket. He is famous for his bowling style. He is a right-arm medium-pace bowler. Apart from his excellent bowling, he is also famous for his long name. Among his friends, he was known as "Bacchu" because calling him by his birth name was hard to pronounce.
6. Heath Davis
Heath Te-Ihi-O-Te-Rangi Davis (born November 30, 1971) is a former cricketer who played for New Zealand in all formats of cricket from 1994 to 1997. He had a very short career as a cricketer due to his knee injury. He is a right-arm fast bowler and was famous for his excellent spell on the field. His name is considered one of the most unique in the history of cricket. His name was not that hard to pronounce, but his middle name was. Te-Ihi-O-Te-Rangi means "with strength derived from Heaven" in Maori. He was known as Davis among his friends.
7. Kapila Wijegunawardene
Kapila Indaka Weerakkody Wijegunawardene (born November 23, 1964) is a former Sri Lankan player who played for Sri Lanka in tests and ODI matches. He was well known for his bowling style. He is a right-arm fast-medium bowler. Even though he was an excellent bowler, he took an early retirement and played for only five years for his national team from 1988 to 1992. His name is on the list of the hardest names to pronounce. His friends and everyone who knew him called him by his first name only because it was easy to pronounce.
8. Eric Szwarczynski
Eric Szwarczynski (born February 13, 1983) is a former South African cricketer who represented the Netherlands in all formats of cricket. He is a right-handed opening batter. As he was not a hard hitter, he was shifted to play at No. 3 for his team. His last name was hard to pronounce, so he was generally known among his friends as "Eric."
9. Chris Mpofu
Christopher Bobby "Chris" Mpofu (born November 27, 1985) is a Zimbabwean cricketer who has represented Zimbabwe in all formats of cricket. He is a right-arm medium-fast bowler. He is famous for his amazing bowling skills and quick wicket-taking spells. Apart from his skills, he was known as "Bobby" among his friends because his last name was hard to pronounce.
10. Njabulo Ncube
Njabulo Ncube (born October 14, 1989) is a Zimbabwean cricketer who represents the Matabeleland Tuskers team domestically. He also represented his national team in one ODI. He is a right-arm fast-medium bowler. He made his national debut in 2011. His friends still find his name hard to pronounce and call him whatever they like. He is generally called by his last name, "Ncube."
