Photo Credit: Cricket South Africa
Having gained promotion to Division 1, KwaZulu-Natal Inland Cricket Union announced its final squad for the 2023/2024 season. The AET Tuskers is looking forward to the new challenges that lie ahead in the new division.
Head Coach Grant Morgan said, “it is with great excitement that we announce our squad for the coming season. It is exciting to retain ten players from our squad that got us there and they deserve to have a crack at the big time, and we retain our Tuskers identity and DNA, the soldiers who embodied our 2-year effort.
We have added Cameron Delport, who was with us in year one of the new system and he brings lots of experience. We have also added Pite van Biljon who brings vast experience and these two will bolster our batting greatly as will experienced Lions batsman Jonty Rapulana. They will give us a lot of great options batting wise across all formats.
We have also signed Mbulelo Budaza and Thando Ntini as pacemen who do exactly the same for us, adding variation and options in the bowling attack. Our final new player is former Dolphins and Titans spinner, Smanga Nhlebela who adds to our already well stocked spin department.”
Morgan further stated, “it is a squad that I believe has a lot of character. The offering of a contract for Kyle Nipper, who was on pay for play for us last 2 seasons, is great reward for one of our true warriors who continues to win games for us and can now refocus total energy to his game and add his skill and passion to our effort.
Mike Erlank, a top performer for us in the last two years, will skipper a side that is sprinkled with talented players who want to prove things at the higher level and will love the chance to do so. These other very talented players who performed very well to get us there are capable of testing the teams that we will join in Division 1 next season.”
AET Tuskers squad: Michael Erlank, Tian Koekemoer, Stefan Tait, Keith Dudgeon, Malcolm Nofal, Dilivio Ridgard, Alindile Mhletywa, Kagiso Rapulana, Pite van Biljon, Mbulelo Budaza, Yaseen Valli, Smangaliso Nhlebela, Cameron Delport, Kyle Nipper, Thamsanqa Kumalo, Thando Ntini.
Cameron Shekleton (HP)
