Wicketkeeper-batsman Bongile Mfunelwa has been added to Western Province’s squad for Sunday’s opening T20 Challenge fixture against Boland at Newlands in Cape Town.
Mfunelwa, who has not yet been capped in professional cricket, was not named in Western Province’s full squad for the whole tournament.
He has since been added in the absence of several first-choice players such as fellow wicketkeeper-batsman Kyle Verreynne.
“The squad is looking good, our guys have really put effort into their skills and there’s a hunger to get onto the park after a long pre-season. With only seven rounds we know how important it is to start well in the competition,” said Western Province captain Beuran Hendricks.
“Its in our hands to make sure we start well from the first ball bowled on Sunday. Our fans can expect a high standard of T20 cricket. We didn’t have a great outing last season, so we want to start off the season on a good note and at a higher intensity.
Former Western Province batsmen Ethan Cunningham and Gavin Kaplan, meanwhile, have been named in Boland’s squad for the T20 Challenge.
“We expect a good fight from Boland. They have a really good squad and with some new recruits they’ve added to their squad we know it’s not going to be a walk in the park. We’ll be making sure we leave no stone unturned,” added Hendricks.
WP squad
- Beuran Hendricks (captain)
- Wesley Bedja
- Bongile Mfunelwa
- Kyle Simmonds
- Mthiwekhaya Nabe
- Liyema Waqu
- Eddie Moore
- Mihlali Mpongwana
- Daniel Smith
- Abdallah Buyoumy
- Jono Bird
- Valentine Kitime
- Yaseen Vallie