Faf du Plessis and Stephen Fleming will reunite at the Johannesburg Super Kings at the CSA T20 League, as captain and head coach, respectively.
Du Plessis, the three-time IPL winner with the Chennai Super Kings, has been named as the Joburg Super Kings captain in the CSA T20 League, set to host its first edition in early 2023. He was picked by the Chennai Super Kings Cricket Limited-owned franchise as one of its five direct signings for US$375,000.
The South African represented CSK between 2011 and 2015, and later 2018 to 2021, being a part of title-winning teams in 2011, 2018 and 2021. He was roped in by Royal Challengers Bangalore at the IPL 2022 auctions and was subsequently named the captain.
“Faf has been a backbone of Chennai Super Kings in the IPL for the last 10 years. He has been one of the most consistent players for our team. We were not fortunate to pick him during the last auction in the IPL. We were looking for an opportunity and that came up in the CSA T20 League,”
CSKCL CEO Kasi Viswanathan said in a statement issued on August 21.
The team also acquired the services of England all-rounder Moeen Ali for $400,000. The player was first picked by CSK ahead of IPL 2021. However, there is some uncertainty over his participation, given that he has signed up with the Capri Global-owned Sharjah Warriors for the UAE T20 League, which will run concurrently with the CSA T20 League.
“As far as Moeen is concerned, everybody is aware of his potential as an all-rounder and his skills in white-ball cricket. We are very happy to have retained Moeen,”
said Viswanathan.
Sri Lanka off-spinner Maheesh Theekshana ($200,000), who represented CSK in IPL 2022, has also been drafted in by the Johannesburg franchise. West Indies all-rounder Romario Shepherd ($175,000) and South African speedster Gerald Coetzee ($50,000) are the other direct signings.
“In South African conditions, a spinner of Theekshana’s caliber will be of great advantage and I’m sure that he will be able to do well there,. We are also allowed to take one development player from South Africa. We have decided on Gerald Coetzee, as recommended by Faf,”
Viswanathan added.
Fleming, who played 10 games for CSK across the first two editions of the IPL before establishing himself an accomplished coach, has been named as Johannesburg’s head coach for the league, with Eric Simmons as his assistant.
As per reports, former South Africa and CSK all-rounder Albie Morkel, too, could be signed up for a coaching role. Morkel played for CSK in the first six editions, which included back-to-back title wins in 2010 and 2011.
The six franchises in the CSA T20 League, the other five being – MI Cape Town, Paarl Royals, Pretoria Capitals, Durban and Sunrisers Easter Cape – are allowed a squad strength of 17 players maximum.
Up to five direct signings can be done, a process which has already been started, and the remaining squads shall be completed at the auctions scheduled to be held on September 20. The total auction purse allotted is 2 million dollars. However, the maximum salary deducted as per the rules will be 250,000.
