Recently-capped Proteas fast bowler Kwena Maphaka says he is excited about the prospect of finally getting involved in the SA20. KHUNULOGO MPOLOKENG reports.

The 2025 edition of the tournament was launched in Johannesburg on Monday and the fixtures released.

Maphaka, who didn’t play in this year’s SA20 due to the U19 World Cup, in which he was named the Player of the Tournament, will represent the Paarl Royals next year.

He says he’s ready for the challenge.

“I was born and bred in Joburg, so I know the Highveld conditions quite well, but everywhere else is kind of unfamiliar territory to me.

“That’s where a lot of the experienced players come in, giving you tips and tricks of the game, keeping you calm and guiding you through your plans and what you can do and what you shouldn’t do.

“That’s going to help me to grow and also give the team the best opportunities to put in the performances.”

The 18-year-old will go into his debut SA20 season having already made a name for himself on the international stage, which helped him make his IPL debut for the Mumbai Indians earlier this year.

Maphaka believes the SA20 is exactly the kind of competition to help in his continued growth.

“Playing T20 cricket at the highest level, playing at the IPL, playing domestic cricket, and now being with the Proteas a little bit – all of that experience and the learnings are going to come in handy and make me a better player.

“At the end of the day, every time you play against the best players in the world, you give yourself a really big challenge and it’s going to be good to test yourself, to understand your game a little better.

“So, hopefully the SA20 is going to be good for me to learn things about my own game and to grow as a player.”

The Paarl Royals will open their 2025 season with a home match against back-to-back champions the Sunrisers Eastern Cape at Boland Park on 11 January.

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