South Africa are all set to welcome another electrifying season of the SA20, a tournament that has quickly established itself as one of the premier T20 leagues in the world. The third edition promi?ses an unparalleled blend of world-class cricket, fierce competition, and top-tier entertainment, captivating cricket enthusiasts across the globe.

SA20 2025 schedule: Cricket for a glorious summer

Marking the start of a new year in style, the tournament will begin on 9 January 2025, bringing togeth??er elite local and international talent for a month of action-packed cricket. The grand finale is scheduled for 8 February 2025, and fittingly, it will be held at South Africa’s cricketing mecca, the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. Known for its vibrant atmosphere and cricketing legacy, the venue is expected to draw massive crowds, adding to the spectacle of the championship-deciding clash.

Opening clash: A battle of titans

The season opener promises to be a mouth-watering affair as defending champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape take on MI Cape Town at St George’s Park in Gqeberha.

• Sunrisers Eastern Cape’s Dominance: The two-time champions will begin their quest for a historic third consecutive title. Led by a core group of match-winners, the Sunrisers aim to cement their legacy as one of the most dominant teams in SA20 history.
• MI Cape Town’s Ambition: Backed by the MI franchise’s global reputation, MI Cape Town will look to make an early statement. Featuring a star-studded lineup, they pose a serious challenge to the reigning champions.

The choice of St George’s Park, renowned for its ??electric atmosphere and live brass bands, ensures the tournament starts on a high ??note.

A platform for local and international talent

One of SA20’s standout features is its ability to showcase the best cricketing talent from South Africa and around the w??orld. The league has?? become a proving ground for emerging stars while providing a platform for seasoned players to exhibit their skills in high-pressure situations.

• Local Talent: Rising South African stars, such as Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs and Gerald Coetzee, will once again have the opportunity to shine on the global stage. The league has played a pivotal role in fast-tracking young talent into the national setup.
• International Stars: Global T20 icons like Rashid Khan, Jos Buttler and Kane Williamson are expected to bring their expertise and flair, ensuring fans are treated to a spectacle of the highest quality.

Also READ: SA20 2025: TV cha??nnels, live streaming details �W??hen and where to watch in India, Australia, USA, UK & other countries

Indian players in SA20: Expanding global horizons

Indian cricketers are often restricted from participating in overseas leagues due to the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) regulations. However, the SA20 has allowed ?a few exceptions, p??articularly for retired players or those granted special permissions. This move has brought immense excitement, as fans get a rare glimpse of Indian talent in a global league.

1. Dinesh Karthik (Paarl Royals)

A seasoned campaigner with a career spanning two decades, Dinesh Karthik is? renowned for his adaptability in T20 cricket. Known for hi?s ice-cool temperament and finishing abilities, he will be a crucial player for the Paarl Royals. Karthik’s knack for handling high-pressure situations makes him an ideal middle-order batter who can also accelerate during death overs.

• Role: Wicketkeeper-batter with expertise in finishing matches.
• Strengths: Exceptional ability to read game scenarios and deliver under pressure.
• Previous Experience: Played for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Karthik’s inclusion adds an experienced leader to the Royals’ dressing room, where his insights could shape younger players’ approaches to the game.

Afghan stars in SA20: The spin wizards

Afghanistan continues to dominate the T20 landscape, producing players who are redefining the shorter format. This sea??son, the SA20 welcomes some of their most sought-after talents, known for their spin maste?ry and unyielding tenacity.

1. Rashid Khan (MI Cape Town, Captain)

Rashid is a global T20 phenomenon whose mastery over leg-spin and ability? to hit big sh??ots make him a complete package. Leading MI Cape Town this season, Rashid combines tactical acumen with a relentless drive to inspire his teammates.

• Role: Captain and leg-spinning all-rounder.
• Notable Achievements: Over 500 T20 wickets and consistent performances in leagues like the IPL and BBL.
• Strengths: Unplayable googlies and unmatched consistency in tight situations.

As captain, Rashid will look? to replicate his success? as a leader, providing MI Cape Town with a winning edge both strategically and through his performances.

2. Naveen-ul-Haq (Durban Super Giants)

A rising star in T20 cricket, Naveen-ul-Haq has already showcased his abilities in?? leagues across the globe. Known for his deceptive slower deliveries an?d tight lines, Naveen thrives in pressure situations.

• Role: Death-over specialist and enforcer in the middle overs.
• Strengths: Variations in pace, ability to deliver under pressure.

With his knack for breaking partnerships and maintaini??ng control during the slog overs, Naveen is poised to be a game-changer?? for the Super Giants.

3. Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Paarl Royals)

Mujeeb brings a unique dimension to the Royals’ bowling attack with his mystery spin, which has proven effective across powerplays and middle overs.

• Role: Mystery spinner and powerplay specialist.
• Strengths: Economical bowling, pinpoint accuracy under pressure.
• Experience: Successful stints in the IPL, Big Bash League (BBL) and Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

Mujeeb’s ability to choke runs early and create opportunities for wickets makes him indispensable in T20 cricket.

4. Noor Ahmad (Durban Super Giants):

• Role: Emerging left-arm wrist-spinner known for his variations and control.
• Strengths: Noor excels in building pressure during middle overs, often striking crucial blows.
• Achievements: Stellar performances in the IPL and other T20 leagues have cemented his reputation as a rising star.

Sri Lankan players in SA20: A blend of youth and experience

Sri Lanka’s rich cricketing heritage continues to shine in the SA20, with their players offering a perfect mix of youth and experience. These cricketers bring versatility ??and resilience, vital traits for success in the fast-paced T20 ??format.

1. Maheesh Theekshana (Joburg Super Kings)

A cornerstone of the Joburg Super Kings’ bowling attack, Maheesh Theekshana’s mystery spin has made him a valuable asset.

• Role: Spinner adept at bowling in powerplay and death overs.
• Strengths: Variability in spin and adaptability across different pitch conditions.
• IPL Connection: Rose to prominence with the Chennai Super Kings.

Theekshana’s ability to contain runs and pick wickets in crucial pha??se?s of the game will be key for the Super Kings.

2. Dunith Wellalage (Paarl Royals)

At just 21 years old, Wellalage has already proven himself as a match-??winner with both bat and ball.

• Role: Spin-bowling all-rounder.
• Strengths: Wicket-taking ability and valuable lower-order contributions.

Wellalage’s youthful ??energy and knack for delivering in crunch moments make him a promising addition to the Royals.

3. Nuwan Thushara (MI Cape Town)

Often like??ned to Lasith Malinga for his slingy action, Thushara is a T20 bowler capable of delivering lethal yorkers.

• Role: Death-over specialist.
• Strengths: Accuracy, variety in pace, and ability to bowl pinpoint yorkers.

Thushara’s unconventional action and?? precise execution make him a nightmare for batters in the final overs.

4. Matheesha Pathirana (Joburg Super Kings)

Nicknamed “Baby Malinga,�Pathirana ?has already impressed in high-pr??essure tournaments like the IPL.

• Role: Specialist in death-over bowling.
• Strengths: Toe-crushing yorkers and deceptive slower balls.

Pathirana’s unorthodox action and ability to deliver in clutch moments add a unique edge to the Super Kings’ lineup.

Importance of international representation

The inclusion of Indian, Afghan and Sri Lankan players in SA20 has elevated the tournament’s global appeal, bringing together a rich blend of styles and skills.

1. Indian Players: Known for their calmness under pressure and versatility, they offer stability and finishing capabilities.
2. Afghan Players: Renowned for their exceptional spin talent and fearless batting, they add unpredictability to any team.
3. Sri Lankan Players: With a balance of youthful exuberance and experience, they excel in adapting to diverse conditions.

This multicultural representation not only enhances the competition but also fosters camaraderie among players from varied? cricketing backgrounds, making the SA20 a truly global spectacle.

Also READ: SA20 2025 Squads: ??Players list and captains of all six teams

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During the 19th match of the ongoing Lanka Premier League (LPL) between Galle Marvels and Colombo Strikers, right-arm fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana jolts the stage with his nail-biting yorkers.

 Matheesha Pathirana’s double strikes

Pathirana grabbed the Player of the Match award for his deadly bowling. He took four wickets in his spell, giving just 20 runs with an economy of 5.2, out of which three were in the same last over, sending Maheesh Theekshana and  Jeffrey Vandersay to the dugout on success?ive yorker deliveries for ducks.

Pathirana’s exceptional yorkers

The first over of Pathirana’s spell was a decent one, as he was sent for a six and also given a wide delivery, but later on, in the 16th over, he opened his wickets account with Sahan Arachchige. Later on, in his fi?nal over, 20th, Pathirana managed to take 3 wickets, and with this, he became the star of the ma??tch.

Here’s the video

The first? time was so nice, Pathirana had to do it tw??ice! 😮

Watch #LPLonFanCode for such fiery cricketing action 🔥 pic.twitter.com/YFCguNQwXc

— FanCode (@FanCode) July 16, 2024

ALSO WATCH: Mohammed Shami refin??es his bowling skills in the nets after ??his injury

Colombo Strikers beat Galle Marvels

The match took?? place at R. Premadasa Stadium where Colombo Strikers won the toss and opted to bowl first.

The Galle Marvels struggled to post an above-par score, with only the impactful batting of Tim Siefert and Bhanuka Rajapaksa con??tributing to at least a match-prevailing total. Both managed to score 44 and 35 runs, respectively.

In response, the Colombo Strikers got a good start thanks to Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s attacking approach. Muhammad Waseem scored 50, whereas Glenn Phillips played an anchor role alongside Sadeera Samarawickrama, which finally took them t?o?? steady victory, with them standing third on the table.  

ALSO READ: Is Jr NTR portraying Rohit Sharma ??in the Indian cricket team captain’s biopic? Poster ??goes viral

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On Thursday (May 9), Sri Lanka announced their 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024. Leading the team will be leg-spinning all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga, with Charith Asalanka appointed as his deputy. Notably, experienced all-rounder and former captain Angelo Mathews has?? been included in the squad after a three-year absence, following his r?ecall to the T20I team earlier this year.

Return of a veteran player

Mathews, the only player from the current Sri Lankan squad who was part of the victorious 2014 World Cup-winning team, is set to compete in his sixth T20 World Cup. The leadership core of the squad is further bolstered by the presence of former limited-overs skipper Dasun Shanaka, current ODI captain Kusal Mendis and Test skipper Dhananjaya de Silva.

Bowling arsenal: Pace and spin combination

Matheesha Pathirana and Dilshan Madushanka will lead the pace attack for the team, supported by Dushmantha Chameera and Nuwan Thushara. Meanwhile, the spin department will be handled by Maheesh Theekshana and Dunith Wellalage, with Dhananjaya De Silva providing an additional option.

Also READ: ??Ireland announces squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cu??p 2024

Group D challenges and fixtures

Sri Lanka finds themselves in Group D for the global showpiece event, alongside South Africa, Bangladesh, Netherlands and Nepal. Their campaign will commence on June? 3 against South Africa in New York, followed by matches against Bangladesh in Dall??as on June 7, and clashes against Nepal and the Netherlands on June 11 and 16, respectively

Sri Lanka squad for T20 World Cup 2024:

Wanindu Hasar??anga (c), Charith Asalanka (vc), Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Kamindu Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage, Dushmantha Chameera, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara, Dilshan Madushanka

Travelling reserves: Asitha Ferna??ndo, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Janith Liyanage

Also READ:?? Here’s why Pakistan haven’t unveiled their ??T20 World Cup 2024 squad

For latest cricket news & updates, visit betvisa68.com.

The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have been a force to be reckoned with in the 17th  season of the Indian premier league (IPL). The team appears well-balanced and is playing with the kind of form expected from defending champions. Currently boasting a strong record of four wins in seven matches, CSK’s bowling attack has been a key factor in their success.

Bowling coach Dwayne Bravo, who took over the role from Laxmipathy Balaji in IPL 2023, has brought his vast experience of 161 IPL matches (with 1560 runs and 183 wickets) to bear in mentoring the likes of Matheesha Pathirana and Mustafizur Rahman.

Dwayne Bravo names the Baby GOAT of CSK

Bravo has been particularly impressed with young pacer Pathirana. He recently lavished praise on the pacer and even nicknamed him ‘baby goat,’ a testament to Pathirana’s natural talent and skills. Instead of imposing a rigid coaching style, Bravo seems to be allowing Pathirana’s natural abilities to flourish, recognizing his confidence and potential as a valuable asset for the CSK bowling attack.

“Pathirana is very special. I call him Baby Malinga. I also call him Baby Goat. He is not someone you try to coach because he has a natural ability and skill,” said Bravo.

Also ?READ: Irfan Pathan questions Hardik Pandya’s hitting ability after another low score in IPL 2024

IPL journey of the special bowler picked by Bravo

Pathirana, who made his IPL debut for the Chennai Super Kings in 2022, has impressed captain MS Dhoni with his bowling prowess. Despite playing only two matches in his debut season, Pathirana emerged as a force to be reckoned wi??th in IPL 2023, claiming a remarkable 19 wickets in 12 matches.

After recovering from an injury that sidelined him for the? initial part of the current season, Pathirana has quickly made an impa??ct, taking 9 wickets in 4 matches with an impressive economy rate of just 7. His ability to consistently bowl accurate yorkers at the death overs has proven to be a major challenge for opposing batters.

Also READ: IPL 2024?? [WATCH]: Rohit Sharma reacts to “Humara Captain kaisa ho�chants after ??the team bus gets stuck in traffic

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Former New Zealand all-rounder Scott Styris believes Chennai Super Kings (CSK) fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana has the potential to outperform legendary Sri Lanka pacer Lasith Malinga. Pathirana has been a standout player for CSK in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023, taking seven wickets in six games.

Styris told Jio Cinema that the twenty-year-old CSK fast-bowle??r might surpa??ss Malinga. This season, Pathirana is bowling at an economy of 8.2 and averages of 27.57; he is continuously bowling in the death overs for CSK.

“I think Pathirana could be better than Malinga. I accept that it’s a massive call because he’s too early in his career,” Styris said.

The 47-year-old added, though Pathirana’s accuracy is lower than Malinga’s, he still has the raw pace that can trouble batters. Styris further stated that Malinga was performing effectively when he was bowling at 145 kph. Malinga has 170 wickets in 122 games, making him one of the most effective bowlers to ever play in the IPL.

“He’s not as accurate as Malinga yet, but Malinga was at his best when he was bowling at 145kph. And he only had about three or four years where that was the case. When he had that speed, and then the change-ups came, you had to respect that pace. When his top speed was down to 135, you could probably look at the slower ball more and react to the Yorkers,” Styris added.

Pathirana, according to Styris, is useful for both CSK and Sri Lanka, and he naturally has a lot of speed. With his slinging action that resembles Malinga’s, the Sri Lankan pacer has bowled over 150kph several times this season.

“What we’ve seen with Pathirana is that he’s bowling at 145, 146, 148kph, so he has that natural advantage. He hits the yorkers pretty well. As he naturally evolves and gets more experience, he can hit those yorkers with that action as much as Malinga, but with a quicker speed and the ability for change-ups. He’s the exciting talent for Sri Lanka, and exciting talent for CSK,” the New Zealander added further.

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Matheesha Pathirana’s bowling style reminds one of Sri Lankan veteran pacer Lasith Malinga.

In a video that has recently surfaced on the internet, it is claimed th?at a 17-year-old Sri Lanka teenager, who seems inspired by Malinga, took 6 wickets for just 7 runs in a college game.

Playing for Trinity College in Kandy, Pathirana ??can be seen bowling deadly yorkers to fox the batsmen.

Here’s the video:

Trinity College Kandy produces another Slinga !!

17 Year old Matheesha Pathirana took 6 wickets for 7 Runs on his debut game for Trinity !! #lka pic.twitter.com/q5hrI0Gl68

— Nibraz Ramzan (@nibraz88cricket) September 26, 2019

The 36-year-old Malinga, meanwhile, continued his splendid form in the game’s shorter format when he picked up four wickets in as many balls during the third T20I against New Zealand earlier this month. He had removed Colin Munro, Hamish Rutherford, Colin de Grandhomme and Ross Taylor to put the Kiwis at 15/4 in their run chase of 126 at Pallekele. The visitors were eventually bundled out for 88, but it was only a consolation win for the hosts as they lost the series 2-1.

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