CSA have announced their eight marquee players to represent each franchise for the first two editions of the #T20 Global Destination League.
This follows the announcement last week of the eight marquee foreign international players, which include West Indian trio Dwayne Bravo, Chris Gayle and Kieron Pollard, Englishmen Kevin Pietersen, Eoin Morgan and Jason, as well as Lasith Malinga and Brendon McCullum.
Each marquee Protea player will be allocated to a new franchise team, based in the city he has either been historically associated with or a city with which he can build a strong association.
The marquee Protea players are:
1) Hashim Amla
2) Quinton de Kock
3) AB de Villiers
4) JP Duminy
5) Faf du Plessis
6) David Miller
7) Kagiso Rabada
8) Imran Tahir
‘The selection of our own South African marquee players has been very exciting,’ commented CSA chief executive Haroon Lorgat. ‘And it will be even more exciting when we engage fans to help us to allocate the “hometown hero” to each franchise team.
‘This announcement is another major step towards establishing our new T20 League in South Africa.
‘We must not understate the world-class quality of our own players. They are household names across the world, and our fans in South Africa will finally get the chance to see them compete against one another at home.
‘Together with the international marquee players announced last week, the Proteas stars will add great value to the new franchise teams they will represent,’ concluded Lorgat.
‘It is a great feeling to be named amongst the eight marquee players,’ said Proteas T20 skipper Faf du Plessis. ‘These are some of the best players in the world. Playing against them in the new #T20 Global Destination League will be a different challenge, and one I look forward to. It will be fun and at the same time very competitive because we know each other so well. I am really looking forward to it.’
Proteas One-Day skipper AB de Villiers conveyed his excitement at being involved. ‘I’m honoured to be part of this list and cannot wait for the competition to get going. It’s amazing to think that the best in the world are going to be here on our shores. Looking at the international names, they are individuals that have changed the landscape of T20 cricket and I look forward to featuring in the league.’
Young Proteas paceman Kagiso Rabada is also going to be the South African star of his franchise. ‘I am overwhelmed to have been named a marquee player. I still cannot believe it and l think it will only hit home as the competition gets close. I look forward to leading by example in the #T20 Global Destination League. It is an opportunity for every young South African cricketer to put his name on the world map. Just thinking of it excites me.’
The rest of the 17-man squads will be assembled by the team owners and coach in a player draft system.
All players wishing to participate in the #T20 League are required to register their interest by e-mailing the template application form available on the CSA website to t20players@cricket.co.za before 31 May 2017.
The process of acquiring team ownership is presently under way with the closing date for bidder proposals 28 April 2017.
Photo: Punit Paranjpe/AFP/Getty Images
