CNN
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It’s been a tense few days, but David Warner has finally been reunited with his missing “baggy green” hat.
Warner provided an update on Friday that the cap had been found, after posting on social media asking for help after his iconic hat went missing.
“I’m happy and relieved to have my bag back in my hands. Every cricketer knows how special his cap is and I will cherish it for the rest of my life,” said the 37-year-old. he said in an Instagram video.
“We are extremely grateful to everyone involved in the discovery, including the Qantas team, carriers, hotels and our own team management team.
“The last few days have taken a weight off my shoulders. I’m really grateful, so I’d like to thank you all.”
For the uninitiated, the baggy green is the hat given to Australian Test cricketers in a tradition that goes back over a century.
Not only is it an iconic symbol of the sport, but it is also extremely valuable. Before his death in 2022, former Australian spinner Shane Warne sold the watch for more than A$1 million ($676,000).
Warner turned to social media for help when his opening batsman’s cap went missing while traveling on national airline Qantas.
Cap’s loss could not have come at a worse time. Warner had intended to wear the cap as he ran onto the Sydney cricket ground for the final Test match of his career.
“Someone took my backpack out of my actual luggage… Inside this backpack was my baggy green color. It’s sentimental to me. It’s something I want to have again. That’s what I think,” Warner said.
Pakistan national team captain Shan Masood, upon hearing of the player’s plight, called for an “immediate nationwide search by the Australian government”.
The hat was not found by the first day of the Test in Sydney on Wednesday, and Warner instead wore a replacement hat in his final outing.
The left-hander announced his retirement from Test and one-day international cricket ahead of the match against Pakistan. This will be his 112th Test match for Australia.
On the second day of the Test in Sydney, in what was probably his penultimate innings for Australia, Warner was out for 34 runs.
CNN’s Andrew McNicol contributed to this report.