SA20 PLAYERS FEATURE PROMINENTLY DESPITE SA EXIT
Despite the shock elimination of South Africa from the T20 World Cup in Australia there will still be eight players flying the SA20 flag in the semifinals of the global showcase when New Zealand take on Pakistan in Sydney on Wednesday and England tackle India in Adelaide on Thursday.
The Proteas extraordinary 13-run loss to the Netherlands on Sunday deprived the World Cup of the services of 14 SA20 players but England will still feature five players in their expected starting XI against India.
Paarl Royals opener, and England captain Jos Buttler, leads the way with the MI Cape Town duo Liam Livingstone and Sam Curran likely to play a huge role in their country’s bid for a second T20 World Cup triumph should they reach the final at the MCG on 13 November.
Phil Salt (R2million) of the Pretoria Capitals seems favourite to replace the injured Dawid Malan in England’s starting line-up and Harry Brook, bought by the Jo’burg Super Kings for R2.1million, is strongly fancied for a powerful finish to a hitherto quiet tournament.
Pretoria Capitals legspinner, Adil Rashid, was man-of-the-match for his 4-0-16-1 during England’s tense, four-wicket victory against Sri Lanka which secured their semifinal spot and his contribution is again expected to be critical at the Adelaide Oval on a pitch being used for the third time in the competition.
The final SA20 player involved in the T20 WC semifinals is New Zealand and Capitals allrounder Jimmy Neesham, as enigmatic on the field as he is personable off it. Batting at No 6 and operating as the ‘spare’, sixth bowler can make for quiet days when plans are working and the team is winning , but Neesham has produced some eye-catching displays with bat and ball when his team has needed him.
Against a rejuvenated Pakistan, given a ‘second life’ in the tournament having expected elimination with a ‘routine’ South Africa victory against the Netherlands, Neesham may well be needed against a resurgent Pakistan.
Indeed, many of Pakistan’s players may have half a mind of catching the attention of the SA20’s six Franchises now that a late call has been made to permit the teams to add an additional player to their squads in the aftermath of the T20 World Cup. The Pakistan Cricket Board has confirmed it will allow its players to play in the SA20 and half a dozen players, at least, will be in contention.
But it’s not just Pakistan’s players who may harbour hopes of a last-minute call-up to the SA20. The Netherlands team which shocked South Africa should also hope for recognition. Bowlers Paul van Neekeran and Fred Klaasen have proven track records at English counties while 38-year-old allrounder, Roelof van der Merwe, still has plenty to offer in the short-term.
Of those SA20 players not reaching the World Cup semifinals, Afghan leg-spin legend Rashid Khan (MI Cape Town) did most to reinforce his reputation as one of the greatest T20 players of all time. His month in Cape Town will be one of the box-office highlights of the tournament.