Hampshire have signed Proteas seamer Ottneil Baartman for the second half of this season’s T20 Blast in the United Kingdom.
Baartman was the second-highest wicket-taker in the SA20 earlier this year – and won the title with the Sunrisers Eastern Cape.
He worked with Hampshire coach Adrian Birrell and all-rounder Liam Dawson at the Sunrisers.
“I’m really looking forward to joining up with Hampshire Hawks for my first experience of county cricket,” said Baartman.
“It’s great to link back up with Birrell and Dawson, who I know well from the SA20. I’ve heard great things about the atmosphere at the Utilita Bowl and I can’t wait to get playing in front of the Hawks fans.”
Baartman has replaced Afghanistan seamer Naveen-ul-Haq at Hampshire.
Baartman will join them in July 2024, after South Africa’s T20 World Cup campaign in the United States of America and West Indies in June. Baartman has not yet debuted in international cricket.
“If you’re going to talk about someone who has forced his name into the squad, you’ll have to talk about Ottneil,” the Daily Maverick quoted Proteas limited-overs coach Rob Walter as saying recently.
“Over the last couple of years, he’s been outstanding, but in particular in the SA20. I felt he was a cut above the rest.
“He really showed himself as a quality death bowler in particular. If you look at the numbers, he’s been successful through all the phases of the game.
“He’s worked really hard to get his name in the mix through sheer performance and it’s a pleasure to be able to reward those guys when it happens.”
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