All-rounder George Linde has not been named in Western Province’s squad for Saturday’s One-Day Cup final against North West at Newlands in Cape Town.
Linde has been sidelined by a knee injury. Fellow all-rounder Kyle Simmonds has returned to the squad.
“Something that we’ve spoken about quite a bit is not shying away from the occasion. For me, it’s massive. It’s something that I’ve dreamt of since I was a little boy,” said Western Province captain Kyle Verreynne.
“I haven’t had an opportunity to play in a final for Western Province, so for me, I’m really excited. And I think for the rest of the team, honestly, it’s something that we’ve all looked forward to for such a long period of time.
“So to get the home final and have the opportunity to hopefully win the trophy in front of our own crowd is something that’s really special.”
Western Province shared the 2022-23 One-Day Cup title with the Lions after the final at the Wanderers in Johannesburg was washed out.
Western Province head coach Salieg Nackerdien added: “We’ve been doing well this competition, picking up where we left off last season. Obviously not everything goes to plan and we missed out on a trophy, which I think the team deserved.
“However, we had a good pre-season and we started the campaign really well and find ourselves in another final.
“We have the squad to take it all the way this season. We’ve built a brand of cricket that we want to play and each member of the squad has bought into that. As a coach that is something you want to leave behind.
“We are in a good position and we’re not thinking too far ahead, we are taking it game by game and the final is no different. We want to create moments that will push the team and the union in the right direction.”