The NEW head coach of the GbetsRocks, JP Duminy, has announced his squad for the CSA T20 Challenge which kicks off in Potchefstroom on Monday. The men from Paarl are the defending their title after winning the tournament in Gqerberha last season.
The former Proteas allrounder selected a squad filled with experienced campaigners and some exciting, young players. Opening batter, Pieter Malan, will continue to lead the side and will once again form a formidable opening duo with his brother, Janneman, who returns after representing South Africa in their ODI series away against India.
The Rocks’ middle order have been boosted with the addition of former Protea, Farhaan Behardien, as well as the experienced Leus de Plooy, fresh off a season with English County, Derbyshire.
Fast bowler, Hardus Viljoen, will be spearheading the seam bowling attack with support coming from allrounder, Ferisco Adams and young quicks Achille Cloete, Kwezi Gumede and Bamanye Xenxe.
Clyde Fortuin will be keeping wicket and will have a role to play with the willow too. Off spinner, Imraan Manack and the experienced leggie, Shaun von Berg, are the specialist spin options whilst Michael Copeland and Du Plooy can also be called upon when required.
Duminy says it was tough to select a squad a 15-man squad. “If you look at the last three months, the work that has been put in and if you look at the size of the squad, there were always going to be guys that miss out,” he said. “More importantly, I’m excited at what we’ve been able to put together. I think we’ve covered our basis for a competition like this and the conditions that we will be facing.”
When asked what his and the team’s expectations of the tournament are, Duminy said: “It goes without saying – we’re go into this tournament as defending champs and you want to meet the requirement of winning it again.”
GbetsRocks: Pieter Malan ©, Janneman Malan, Clyde Fortuin, Michael Copeland, Ferisco Adams, Achille Cloete, Hardus Viljoen, Farhaan Behardien, Leus Du Plooy, Shaun Von Berg, Imraan Manack, Khwezi Gumede, Bamanye Xenxe, Christiaan Jonker, Valentine Kitime.