Smith set for India Test as Proteas open World Cup Campaign

The year 2026 will be one Jason Smith and his family are unlikely to forget.

For the 31-year-old batter, the year began with a homecoming of sorts as he pulled on the blue jersey of MI Cape Town in the Betway SA20. It marked the first time in years that Smith represented a team from his home city, having previously moved to Durban in search of greater opportunities and career progression.

The return meant friends and family could easily travel to Newlands to watch him play, sharing in a journey that had taken him across provinces and through years of perseverance.

That sense of occasion was heightened when Smith represented South Africa on home soil against the West Indies in Paarl — just an hour’s drive from Cape Town — a moment that carried added significance as his first international appearance in the country.

Smith has since joined the Proteas squad in Ahmedabad, where South Africa is completing their final preparations for the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. It will be his first senior men’s ICC tournament, more than a decade after winning the 2014 Under-19 World Cup alongside Kagiso Rabada, Aiden Markram and Corbin Bosch.

Yet, amid the professional milestones, Smith said it was a personal moment that stood out most — his father’s birthday last month.

On a sunny Friday morning in Cape Town on January 2, Smith’s father celebrated his 60th birthday on the same day his son received his maiden World Cup call-up.

Smith said the moment made the achievement feel real for the first time.

"I think it became more real once we got on the flight to India. At the time, it didn't really kick in when I was selected. I had a lot going on with my Dad's birthday, and it was his 60th," Smith said.

"The squad was announced on the second, and that is my Dad's birthday. I was at the hotel at the time laying on the physio bed, and I couldn't really believe it.

"I think my Dad spent the evening trying to celebrate that and not his birthday. It made it pretty special for him.

"I don't think I've seen my father enjoy a moment of his life like that. So, it was amazing and special for our family."

Smith is expected to play a key role in South Africa’s World Cup campaign. For a player who made his international debut at 30, his rise reflects not only personal resilience but also the unwavering support of a family that stood by him through the challenges of pursuing a professional cricket career in South Africa.