Fast bowler Thando Ntini, batsman Grant Roelofsen, all-rounder Jason Smith and several other domestic stars have been named in the South Africa Emerging Men’s squad for this month’s tour of Namibia.
The 16-man squad also includes wicketkeeper Sinethemba Qeshile, spinner Gregory Mahlokwana and all-rounder Delano Potgieter.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for our high-performance players especially after the lack of cricket that has been available for the past 12 months,” said head coach Malibongwe Maketa.
“This creates another opportunity for them to showcase their skills and also for us as the high-performance office to get closer to the players and understand what they need going forward in terms of our support for them.
“The Namibian team has always been strong, and we face them at a time when they are also looking to qualify for the T20 World Cup.
“Playing a full-strength team in their own conditions will undoubtedly be tough and offer a real test for the guys in our programme. That is precisely what we need and is what the guys require to proceed to the next level.”
Nambia and the South African Emerging team will contest six limited-overs fixtures, including three T20Is, from 23 April to 1 May 2021.
South Africa Emerging Men’s squad
- Stefan Tait
- Thando Ntini
- Grant Roelofsen
- Joshua Richards
- Jonathan Bird
- Jason Smith
- Tshepo Ntuli
- Kabelo Sekhukhune
- Lifa Ntanzi
- Matthew Breetzke
- Dayyaan Galiem
- Bryce Parsons
- Sinethemba Qeshile
- Wandile Makwetu
- Gregory Mahlokwana
- Delano Potgieter
Support staff
- Malibongwe Maketa (head coach)
- Imraan Khan (assistant coach)
- Piet Botha (bowling coach)
- Brent Martin (physiotherapist)
- Nandile Tyali (Strength and conditioning coach)
- Kyle Southgate (video analyst)
CSA acting chief executive officer Pholetsi Moseki added: “Cricket South Africa would like to thank Cricket Namibia for facilitating this tour and going the extra mile to make it possible.
“In a time of a pandemic and when competitive cricket as well as touring other countries is extremely tough, this is a great chance for our Emerging team to showcase their potential against an international team that is one of the best in Africa.”