PAARL ROYALS RETAIN YOUNG STARS FOR BETWAY SA20 SEASON 3

Paarl Royals have injected a vibrant energy into their squad with the retention of an impressive group of young players for Betway SA20 Season 3. 

The Boland Park-based team have placed their faith in last season’s Rookie signings Nqaba Peter and Lhuan-dre Pretorius along with 18-year-old fast bowling sensation Kwena Maphaka. 

Leg-spinner Peter replaced Pretorius ahead of Season 2 after the hard-hitting opening batter was called up to the South Africa U19 squad for the ICC Men’s U19 World Cup. 

Maphaka is also yet to feature for the Royals after teaming up with Pretorius at the ICC Men’s U19 World Cup. The left-arm seamer enjoyed a spectacular competition where he claimed 21 wickets that saw the St Stithians prodigy announced as Player of the Tournament. 

Peter made his Royals debut against the Sunrisers Eastern Cape in St George’s Park last season where he was handed the pressure-filled final over by captain David Miller. 

The 21-year-old benefited tremendously from the exposure as he went on to achieve great heights in the Cricket SA T20 Challenge. 

Peter claimed 20 wickets at an average of 9.50 that earned him a Proteas T20 International debut in the series against the West Indies in the Caribbean.

Royals, who have reached the playoffs in both previous SA20 seasons, have retained a further seven South African players, headlined by Proteas-capped players Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Bjorn Fortuin and Andile Phehlukwayo. 

They have also retained middle-order batter Mitchell van Buuren, seamer Codi Yusuf and all-rounder Keith Dudgeon.

Yusuf was also recently called up to the South Africa ‘A’ squad for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka ‘A’. 

Royals have also executed the third trade (and their second) within SA20 history with former Joburg Super Kings all-rounder Dayyaan Galiem heading to Boland Park with experienced spinner Tabraiz Shamsi joining the Super Kings. 

"We are delighted to go into the upcoming auction with a very formidable core of capped and uncapped South African players. After the disappointment of last season where we faltered towards the latter stages of the tournament, it was important to re-look at the squad and make certain changes. We believe this core has varied attributes and will serve as a solid base, which will further be complemented by the players we sign at the auction," said Royals' Director of Cricket Kumar Sangakkara.

"At the same time, there were multiple difficult decisions we had to make considering the balance of our side, including letting go of someone like Tabraiz Shamsi, who made significant contributions to the franchise over the past couple of seasons," added Sangakkara.

FULL LIST OF PAARL ROYALS SOUTH AFRICAN RETENTIONS FOR SEASON 3

David Miller (captain), Keith Dudgeon, Bjorn Fortuin, Kwena Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi, Nqaba Peter, Andile Phehlukwayo, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Mitchell van Buuren, Codi Yusuf.

Pre-signed overseas

Joe Root (England)

Trade-in

Dayyaan Galiem (from Joburg Super Kings, for Tabraiz Shamsi)