Graeme Smith ecstatic to have de Kock-Roy opening pair for Benoni Zalmi

The drums of the inauguration of South Africa’s shortest-format extravaganza, T20 Global League are beating loudly. Every team has tried their best to pick the creme of the crop from the draft system. One position where the teams were a bit more cautioned, for obvious reasons, is the opening position. While every club has got a formidable opening partnership, Benoni Zalmi’s opening duo might give nightmares to many bowling attacks.

The sister franchise of Pakistan Super League (PSL) team Peshawar Zalmi, the Benoni Zalmi team management has done a great bit of work in choosing the right combination for the opening partnership. They have gone with South Africa’s own left-handed little superstar Quinton de Kock and England’s enigmatic opener Jason Roy. While de Kock may be considered as one of the best openers in the world as far as the shortest format of the game is considered, Roy also has a fair bit of experience after featuring for the Gujarat Lions in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

When Zalmi’s coach, former South African skipper Graeme Smith was asked about how happy he was with his openers, he said, “It’s quite exciting to have a young player like Jason. He will bring exuberance to the squad. I played with Jason when I was at Surrey, and got to know him pretty well. He plays his strokes aggressively at the top of the order and is also a great fielding option. There is already a dynamic combination at the top of the order for us with Quinny.”

“It’s still pretty new and all been a bit frantic, but we all know when the openers get the team off to a good start, it makes everyone’s job a whole lot easier, including mine!” he further added.

Cape Town Knight Riders are bound to give a tough competition

While Zalmi has got a great opening pair, sister franchise of Indian Premier League (IPL) team Kolkata Knight Riders, the Cape Town Knight Riders also has got a great opening pair in the monster among men Chris Gayle and Rassie van der Dussen.