November 05 Tuesday 2002
Rhodes pressed into service

JOHANNESBURG: South African fielding sensation Jonty Rhodes has joined the ranks of currency icons, as his image appears on a new fifty cent coin produced by South African mint to celebrate the 2003 World Cricket Cup. The new look coin features a recreation of Rhodes' famous run out of Inzamam ul-Haq at the 1992 World Cup. 

With less than 100 days to go before start of the World Cup, the new coins are already in circulation throughout South Africa. 

Commenting on the new coin, CWC Executive Director Ali Bacher paid tribute to both Rhodes and South African government. 

"Jonty is a true icon - a role model for young cricketers." Somewhat surprisingly after the events earlier in the week, Bacher went on to praise South African government for their role in the build-up of showpiece event. 

"We have received tremendous backing from the government, private sector and people of South Africa, and we aim not to disappoint the public when the big moment arrives." 

In addition to mass-circulation fifty cent piece, a set of specially commissioned coins have also been minted to mark South Africa's status as host of the world's third biggest sporting event. 

The series consists of amongst other things pure gold R25 and R5 coins and a sterling silver R1 coin.