Former South African batsman AB de Villiers will play in the new domestic T20 tournament, Mzansi Super League (MSL). The league, named after a colloquial term for South Africa, will run from November 15 to December 16.
The 34-year-old was named as one of the 12 marquee players – six South African and six overseas players.
The Cricket South Africa (CSA) on Monday revealed the names of teams, their respective venues and marquee players on Monday. Six teams will be competing for their services in a draft in Johannesburg on Wednesday.
1. Cape Town Blitz (Newlands) - JP Duminy
2. Durban Heat (Kingsmead) - Hashim Amla
3. Jozi Stars (Wanderers) - Kagiso Rabada
4. Nelson Mandela Bay Giants (St George’s Park) - Imran Tahir
5. Paarl Rocks (Boland Park) - Faf du Plessis
6. Tshwane Spartans (SuperSport Park Centurion) - AB de Villiers
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England one-day captain Eoin Morgan and fellow England players Jason Roy and Dawid Malan will join West Indians Chris Gayle and Dwayne Bravo and Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan as the leading overseas players.
De Villiers, who retired from international cricket earlier this year, heads the list of designated South African players. He will represent the Tshwane Spartans, who will be based at his long-time home ground in Centurion.
National captain Faf du Plessis will play for the Paarl Rocks team in the Cape Winelands, Hashim Amla for Durban Heat, JP Duminy for Cape Town Blitz, Kagiso Rabada for Jozi Stars in Johannesburg and Imran Tahir for the Port-Elizabeth based Nelson Mandela Bay Giants.
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Cricket South Africa chief executive Thabang Moroe said there had been a big response from players from around the world who wanted to be included in the league.
"We have received applications from over 200 top international players who expressed interest in playing in this inaugural tournament and will have their names in the hat ahead of the player draft process," said Moroe.
South Africa's first attempt at staging a major Twenty20 tournament collapsed in 2017, leading to the axing of then chief executive Haroon Lorgat and a loss of an estimated $14 million.
It appeared doubtful that the concept would be revived in time for the current season before CSA announced on September 8 that it would go ahead.
South Africa's national broadcaster, SABC, has been granted the rights to televise the tournament.
(With AFP Inputs)
