Paarl Royals retain David Miller and Lungi Ngidi among others ahead of SA20 2025
The Paarl Royals have retained 10 South African players, including David Miller and Lungi Ngidi, for the upcoming season of SA20. The franchise also retained ace all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo.
The Royals finished third in the points table in the last edition of SA to qualify for the playoffs. However, they lost to the Joburg Super Kings by nine wickets in the Eliminator and crashed out of the competition.
The Paarl Royals have made some strategic changes to go one step further in the next edition of SA20. Along with three seasoned cricketers, the franchise also retained Kwena Maphaka and Lhuan-dre Pretorius, who were roped in last year's auction.
Paarl Royals' director of cricket Kumar Sangakkara expressed confidence in the core set of South African players in an official release. He said:
"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."
The franchise have released Dane Vilas, Evan Jones, Wihan Lubbe, and Ferisco Adams, while Dayyaan Galiem was traded in from the Joburg Super Kings.
Paarl Royals squad: David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Bjorn Fortuin, Andile Phehlukwayo, Mitchell van Buuren, Codi Yusuf, Keith Dudgeon, Nqaba Peter, Kwena Maphaka, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, and Dayyaan Galiem (traded in).
MI Cape Town hold on to Kagiso Rabada and Dewald Brevis for SA20 2025
MI Cape Town, who endured a horrible campaign in the last edition, have started building a strong squad to fight for the title. They finished last in the standings with only three wins from 10 matches.
In a bid to win their first title, Cape Town have held on to their pre-signings - Dewald Brevis and Kagiso Rabada. Besides, the franchise have also retained Rassie van der Dussen, Ryan Rickelton, George Linde, Delano Potgieter, Thomas Kaber, and Connor Esterhuizen.
The MI Cape Town released Beuran Hendricks, Duan Jansen, Grant Roelofsen, and Neelan van Heerden ahead of the SA 2025 auction. The franchise said in a statement:
"MI Cape Town would like to thank [these] players for their support and contribution over the last 2 seasons and wish them the very best."
The new season of SA20 will get underway on January 9, 2025.