NEWS
Follow UsRahmanullah Gurbaz, who shone as a batter at the international level under the tutelage of Jonathan Trott in Afghan colours, will rejoin the former English player. The reunion would happen at the Pretoria Capitals in the SA 20’s 2025 season starting in February next year. On August 5 (Monday), the Capitals signed Gurbaz in what will be the Afghan opener’s first stint in the premier T20 league of South Africa.
Trott, who was born in South Africa but played for England, coached the Afghan side to their maiden T20 World Cup semi-final in 2024 after having already had a brilliant ODI World Cup 2023. It was in that World Cup that Gurbaz scored a brilliant fifty against England at New Delhi and led the team to a win against the English at the mega event for the first time.
Trott, 43 replaced Graham Ford as Pretoria’s coach in July this year. Sunrisers Eastern Cape, the defending champions of SA20 had signed Zak Crawley, Craig Overton and Roelof van der Merwe.
The 22-year-old Afghan player who plays for the Capitals franchise in the ILT20, representing the Dubai team, is a well-travelled cricketer. He is currently playing in the Global T20 Canada for the Bangla Tigers Mississauga.
Being the highest run-getter in the T20 World Cup 2024 has also helped boost Gurbaz's credentials. The stylish Afghan batter amassed 281 runs at an average of 35.12 and a strike rate of 124.33.
He was also impressive for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the latter parts of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, opening the innings in Phil Salt’s absence.
Gurbaz is Pretoria’s second signing this season after Ollie Pope and will join retained players Wayne Parnell, Will Jacks, Rilee Rossouw, Jimmy Neesham and Anrich Nortje in the squad for the 2025 edition.
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