Quinton de Kock and Kagiso Rabada included in the elite group of South Africa players

In the last month of the financial year Cricket South Africa (CSA) today announced national contracts for the South African men and women’s teams for the upcoming season 2017-18. The duration of the contract will be 1st April 2017 to 31st March 2018 and as per the CSA website, it covers the following: inter-alia, the 2017 edition of the ICC Champions Trophy, the ICC Women’s World Cup and the men’s bilateral tours away to England and the home series against Bangladesh, India, and Australia.

Test opener Stephen Cook, spinner Keshav Maharaj, allrounder Chris Morris, right-arm pacer Andile Phehlukwayo and chinaman Tabraiz Shamsi have been awarded their first contract by the CSA this time. All the five players made their debut in the 2016-17 season but after the contracts were already assigned.

“With a busy season ahead of us which also means heavier workloads on players, we decided to increase the number of men’s national contracts from 18 to 21,” Haroon Lorgat, CSA Chief Executive told cricket.co.za. “We also needed to recognize that certain players are specialists in certain formats of the game.”

Two players who stood out for the South African team across formats were young wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock and pacer Kagiso Rabada. Their performances have been rewarded with multi-year contracts and that now places them in the elite group of players that includes the A-listers in the team.

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“We are fortunate to have transitioned successfully and we now boast a strong squad made up of young and experienced world class stars,” added Mr Lorgat.

Players awarded contracts by CSA:

Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Farhaan Behardien, Stephen Cook, Quinton de Kock, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Dean Elgar, Imran Tahir, Keshav Maharaj, David Miller, Morne Morkel, Chris Morris, Wayne Parnell, Aaron Phangiso, Andile Phehlukwayo, Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Dale Steyn.

14 women’s players were also handed over the contracts for the season. “Congratulations to opening bat Laura Wolvaardt who is the only newcomer to our women’s squad and to both Sune Luus and Ayabonga Khaka who have been promoted to the top tier,” concluded Mr Lorgat.

CSA contracted Women’s players:

Dané van Niekerk, Ayabonga Khaka, Suné Luus, Marizanne Kapp, Mignon du Preez, Shabnim Ismail, Trisha Chetty, Chloe Tryon, Lizelle Lee, Matshipi Marcia Letsoalo, Laura Wolvaardt, Masabata Klaas, Andrie Steyn, Moseline Daniels.