Ben Stokes is set to be the marquee signing for MI Cape Town in the upcoming SA20 season, as the team aims to improve after finishing at the bottom of the table in the previous two editions. Joining Stokes is Afghanistan’s rising star, Azmatullah Omarzai, another significant overseas addition to the squad.
These signings, along with the returning Rashid Khan and Trent Boult, both pre-signed for the 2025 season, are expected to bolster the team’s chances. The squad also includes retained players Nuwan Thushara and Chris Benjamin, ensuring a strong overseas contingent.
The domestic lineup is equally formidable, featuring South African stars like Kagiso Rabada, Dewald Brevis, Rassie van der Dussen, Ryan Rickelton, and George Linde. New additions include Delano Potgieter, Thomas Kaber, and Connor Esterhuizen, rounding out a well-balanced team with a mix of experience and emerging talent.
Boult’s MI return and Stoke’s injury concern
Trent Boult’s move to MI Cape Town marks the fourth Mumbai Indians-owned team he will be part of, having previously played for Mumbai Indians in the IPL, MI New York in the MLC, and MI Emirates in the ILT20. England’s schedule could allow several of their players, not involved in the limited-overs series in India early next year, to play full seasons at the ILT20 and SA20, with the SA20 set to run from January 9 to February 8, 2025.
Stokes’ England contract is due to expire at the end of September after he declined a three-year deal last year. He hasn’t played white-ball cricket for England since the 2023 ODI World Cup and hasn’t featured in a T20I since the 2022 World T20 final, where he played a crucial role in England’s victory.
Currently sidelined with a hamstring tear, Stokes is aiming to return for England’s Test tour of Pakistan starting on October 7. If he participates in the SA20, it will mark a rare franchise league appearance for England’s Test captain, whose recent IPL stints were marred by injuries and workload management.
