Strategy coach Richard das Neves believes the Paarl Royals have put together the perfect formula for a successful SA20 Season 3.
Upon the completion of the auction on Tuesday in Cape Town, the Royals have opted for a squad that contains some of the hottest youngsters in South Africa, such as teenagers Kwena Maphaka and Lhuan-dré Pretorius, alongside promising leg-spinner Nqaba Peter.
The Royals have also drafted a third member of the SA team that competed in this year’s Under-19 World Cup in Dewan Marais as their rookie for next season.
But alongside this youthful talent, the Boland Park-based outfit have retained some experienced campaigners such as captain David Miller and Lungi Ngidi, while also bringing in the vast international experience of former England captain Joe Root and India T20 World Cup winner Dinesh Karthik.
Das Neves feels this combination of youth and experience will help the Royals reach their first-ever SA20 final next year.
🗣️ Skipper Miller on our two newest Royals! 💗 pic.twitter.com/ynxofXGzYo
— Paarl Royals (@paarlroyals) October 2, 2024
“I think with the younger players, you obviously have to get the right mix, and having somebody like Dinesh does that for us,” Das Neves said.
“I think it’s a big coup for the league as well, having the quality of Dinesh playing in Paarl.
“So, yeah, it’s more around that whole balance of getting the experience with the youth. And I think for somebody like Lhuan-dré Pretorius, who’s a keeper-batter, working with Dinesh for five, six weeks can only benefit South African cricket.”
Das Neves also stated that this was the strategic thinking behind the trading of star wrist-spinner Tabraiz Shamsi to the Joburg Super Kings in return for all-rounder Dayyaan Galiem.
“Shammo has obviously done well for the Royals and has a decent record at Paarl,” he said. “But the thought process was more around Nqaba Peter, and his growth.
“We’re looking at building a sort of core around our younger players like Nqaba, Pretorius, Kwena Maphaka.
“So yeah, it was more around that. And obviously getting the Galiem trade gives us a nice balance to the team.”
Ready to #BringTheGees to Paarl in 2025! 💗🔥 pic.twitter.com/VgDjraavjq
— Paarl Royals (@paarlroyals) October 2, 2024
Meanwhile, MI Cape Town coach Robin Peterson was equally excited about picking up rookie fast bowler Tristan Luus in the draft.
Luus, 19, along with Pretorius, Maphaka and Marais formed part of the SA side that reached the Under-19 World Cup semi-finals on home soil earlier this year.
“Fast bowlers are rare to find. So, when you find one at that age, you try and pick them up,” Peterson said.
Experience ✅ Leadership ✅
— MI Cape Town (@MICapeTown) October 2, 2024
Filled the gaps, a solid core - let’s do this!
#OneFamily #MICapeTown #BetwaySA20Auction pic.twitter.com/F0JmVmkfvM
“The man on my right here (referring to Sunrisers fast-bowling coach Dale Steyn) would know everything about that.
“So, we decided to go for him and invest in him (Luus). He’s a bright prospect, and he’s been accelerated within the South African system, playing for the SA A side already.
𝗦𝗤𝗨𝗔𝗗 𝗚𝗢𝗔𝗟𝗦 💙
— MI Cape Town (@MICapeTown) October 2, 2024
#OneFamily #MICapeTown #BetwaySA20Auction pic.twitter.com/Si96m8TWQx
“And we feel, given opportunities, he can go on to play higher-level cricket within our structure.
“So, his development will be pretty good. And hopefully in the not-too-distant future, he can be a finished product.”