Mzansi Super League franchises reveal names of retained players

As the time for the second edition of Mzansi Super League (MSL) draws near, Cricket South Africa has received a huge list of 250 international players, T20 specialists and Kolpak players who have signed the agreement to enter the draft for the upcoming edition. The second edition of South Africa‘s recently-launched premier T20 edition will take place in November and December this year with the draft scheduled to commence shortly.

The South African cricket board is likely to announce the name of the marquee players soon. Players from both South Africa and overseas are expected to be in the marquee list. CSA chief executive officer Thabang Moroe pointed out that the MSL has become a global brand and said that the ongoing edition is going to be the biggest T20 tournament hosted in the country after the inaugural edition of World T20 way back in 2007.

Since then South Africa have hosted IPL once as well as the now-scrapped Champions League T20 but Moroe is hopeful of MSL overshadowing those tournaments. “This is confirmation that MSL is now an established global brand that is taking its place at the head table alongside the other Global T20 events,” Thabang Moroe said as South Africa Cricket Magazine quoted. “We have drawn interest from around the world with players applying from virtually all the top-tier international countries.

“To this can be added our Proteas, past and present, who will add further lustre to our tournament. This will certainly be the biggest T20 event we have hosted since the inaugural T20 World Cup that was staged here in 2007 and became the forerunner of all the global T20 events that followed,” added Moroe.

Franchises reveal retained players’ list

Ahead of the much-awaited players’ draft, the six teams of the tournament have revealed the names of the players they have retained for the forthcoming edition. Dale Steyn, David Miller, Dan Christian, Chris Morris, Aiden Markram and Lungi Ngidi are some of the big names who have retained by their respective teams.

Here is a list of the retained players

Cape Town Blitz: Asif Ali, Janneman Malan, Anrich Nortje, Dale Steyn.

Durban Heat: Kyle Abbott, Sarel Erwee, Keshav Maharaj, David Miller, Khaya Zondo.

Jozi Stars: Dan Christian, Reeza Hendricks, Duanne Olivier, Sinethemba Qeshile, Ryan Rickelton, Rassie van der Dussen.

Nelson Mandela Bay Giants: Junior Dala, Heino Kuhn, Marco Marais, Chris Morris, Jon-Jon Smuts.

Paarl Rocks: Henry Davids, Cameron Delport, Bjorn Fortuin, Aiden Markram, Mangaliso Mosehle, Tabraiz Shamsi.

Tshwane Spartans: Theunis de Bruyn, Tony de Zorzi, Lungi Ngidi, Lutho Sipamla.