Hashim Amla, Vernon Philander, Wayne Parnell near Western Province returns

File image: Wayne Parnell and Vernon Philander.

Former Proteas Hashim Amla, Wayne Parnell and Vernon Philander are reportedly among the players being considered for Western Province contracts ahead of South Africa’s 2021-22 domestic season.

Parnell, Amla and Philander retired from international cricket in 2018, 2019 and 2020, respectively.

Parnell and Amla then pursued Kolpak contracts with Worcestershire and Surrey, respectively, in English county cricket. Philander’s Kolpak contract with Somerset was cancelled by mutual consent.

Kolpak contracts are no longer allowed, after the United Kingdom left the European Union. Parnell has since been signed as an overseas player by Northamptonshire.

Titans spinner Kyle Simmonds, Lions seamer Beuran Hendricks and Warriors batsman Yaseen Vallie have also been recruited by Western Province, according to Netwerk24. Former Cape Cobras batsman David Bedingham is in conversation, too.

Cape Cobras wicketkeeper-batsman Kyle Verreynne, all-rounder George Linde, batsman Zubayr Hamza, Jonathan Bird and Tony de Zorzi and seamer Nandre Burger have reportedly been offered two-year contracts.

The Cobras, Knights, Dolphins, Titans, Lions and Warriors will cease to exist, as South African domestic cricket reverts to provincial rather than franchise competition later this year.

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