After starring for the Proteas in the recent ODI series against Australia, Heinrich Klaasen has missed out on a national contract following Cricket South Africa’s announcement of contracted players on Monday, writes ANDRE HUISAMEN.
The governing body confirmed the list of men’s and women’s players, who will be awarded contracts for the 2020-21 cricket season.
Following the recent conclusion of the summer season, Anrich Nortje, Dwaine Pretorius and Rassie van der Dussen all earned bigger contracts for their performances over the course of last year and the beginning of this one, while fast bowler Beuran Hendricks also got rewarded with his first national contract.
With an upgrade system in place, uncontracted players selected for the Proteas will have the opportunity to earn contracts by delivering good performances.
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One of them will be Klaasen, who missed out this time around, despite his Man of the Series performance against the Aussies.
Scores of 123*, 51 and 68* had him finish as the highest run-scorer over the three ODIs, which were all won by the Proteas.
‘We have contracted 16 men’s players and 14 women’s players which we feel is the appropriate number to maintain our national squads across the various formats. This enables us to contract both our Test players as well as those who are limited-overs specialists,’ said CSA acting chief executive Jacques Faul at the announcement.
‘We have decided to keep the 17th men’s contract open for the moment and players can qualify for it through performance.’
Scheduled tours for the rest of the year include a home Test series against Sri Lanka and Australia, while the Proteas will take on Pakistan and India in T20Is on home soil.
They also have away tours scheduled for West Indies and Sri Lanka.
CSA contracted Standard Bank Proteas men’s players: Temba Bavuma (Imperial Lions), Quinton de Kock (Momentum Multiply Titans), Faf du Plessis (Momentum Multiply Titans), Dean Elgar (Momentum Multiply Titans), Beuran Hendricks (Imperial Lions), Reeza Hendricks (Imperial Lions), Keshav Maharaj (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Aiden Markram (Momentum Multiply Titans), David Miller (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Lungi Ngidi (Momentum Multiply Titans), Anrich Nortje (Warriors), Andile Phehlukwayo (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Dwaine Pretorius (Imperial Lions), Kagiso Rabada (Imperial Lions), Tabraiz Shamsi (Momentum Multiply Titans), Rassie van der Dussen (Imperial Lions).
CSA contracted Momentum Proteas women’s players: Trisha Chetty (KZN Coastal), Nadine de Klerk (WP), Mignon du Preez (Northerns), Shabnim Ismail (KZN Coastal), Sinalo Jafta (WP), Marizanne Kapp (EP), Ayabonga Khaka (Gauteng), Masabata Klaas (North West), Lizelle Lee (North West), Sune Luus (Northerns), Tumi Sekhukhune (North West), Chloe Tryon (KZN Coastal), Dane van Niekerk (EP), Laura Wolvaardt (WP).
