Leg-spinner Nqaba Peter and fast bowler Kwena Maphaka will be with the Paarl Royals for this year’s SA20.
Peter and Maphaka had not played international cricket during the 2024 SA20, but have since been capped by the Proteas. Peter has played ODI and T20I cricket. Maphaka has done the same – and debuted at Test level.
“Maphaka, the young left-arm fast bowler who can bowl it at the speed of light, who will be running out for the Paarl Royals, is definitely a prospect for the rising star award,” said former Proteas captain and SA20 ambassador AB de Villiers.
“Equally, Nqaba is a great prospect for the future of the Proteas set-up.”
The Paarl Royals have not won an SA20 title. They were losing semi-finalists in 2023 – and exited title contention at the play-off stage of the tournament in 2024, too. The Royals are captained by Proteas batsman David Miller.
The Sunrisers Eastern Cape are the reigning SA20 champions. They are the most successful team in the brief history of the tournament with two titles.
The 2025 SA20 coincides with Bangladesh Premier League, Big Bash League in Australia and International League T20 in the United Arab Emirates.
“We see ourselves as very different to the ILT20. We’re a South African league, with a majority of South African players and our ultimate goal is to benefit South African players,” said SA20 league commissioner Graeme Smith.
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Paarl Royals squad for 2025 SA20
- David Miller
- Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Afghanistan)
- Sam Hain (England)
- Joe Root (England)
- Dinesh Karthik (India)
- Kwena Maphaka
- Lhuan-dre Pretorius
- Bjorn Fortuin
- Lungi Ngidi
- Mitchell van Buuren
- Keith Dudgeon
- Nqaba Peter
- Andile Phehlukwayo
- Codi Yusuf
- Eshan Malinga (Sri Lanka)
- Dayyaan Galiem
- Jacob Bethell (England)
- Rubin Hermann
- Dewan Marais (rookie)
SA20 head coaches
- Durban’s Super Giants – Lance Klusener
- Joburg Super Kings – Stephen Fleming
- MI Cape Town – Robin Peterson
- Paarl Royals – Trevor Penney
- Pretoria Capitals – Jonathan Trott
- Sunrisers Eastern Cape – Adrian Birrell
SA20 captains
- Durban’s Super Giants – Keshav Maharaj
- Joburg Super Kings – Faf du Plessis
- MI Cape Town – Rashid Khan
- Paarl Royals – David Miller
- Pretoria Capitals – Rilee Rossouw
- Sunrisers Eastern Cape – Aiden Markram
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