Warriors and Border cricket stars Jerry Nqolo and Somila Seyibokwe have been selected to the seven-man national squad to play in the Hong Kong Sixes Tournament at the end of the month.
Since its inception in 1992, South Africa has won the competition four times, in 1995, 2006, 2009 and the last edition in 2012.
The tournament has had a five-year break due to funding problems after being unable to secure private sponsorship.
“The team we have chosen will give opportunities to players who are coming through the system,” CSA national selection panel convener Linda Zondi said. “I am very excited to make the team, it is a great opportunity so I am pretty chuffed and looking forward to the challenge,” said Nqolo.
“I am happy to be playing alongside Somila, we have been teammates for many years and it is always nice to play with someone you know well.”
The sixes tournament is designed for television viewing, with rules and a venue that encourage aggressive batting and high scoring.
Each team has a complement of six players and every player, bar the wicket-keeper, is required to bowl one over each. The format is thus suited towards all-rounders which is perfect for both Nqolo and Seyibokwe, who both bat and bowl.
“It is a very different game, I am not really sure what to expect, I have not heard much about it and it is going to be very interesting to see some of the other teams and players taking part,” Nqolo admitted.
“We will obviously be going to win it but with it being such a short game anything can happen and we just want to make sure that we have fun while doing as well as we can.”
This year’s Hong Kong Ssixes will take place on October 28 and 29 at Kowloon Cricket Club in Hong Kong.
SA Sixes squad: Sarel Erwee (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Aubrey Swanepoel (VKB Knights), Corne Dry (VKB Knights), Jerry Nqolo (Warriors), Somila Seyibokwe (Border), Ferisco Adams (Boland), Farhaan Sayanvala (Gauteng).