Mzansi Super League: AB de Villiers, Tom Curran part of Spartans' team

After a successful first edition of the Mzansi Super League, the authorities have decided to go ahead with the second edition of the South African T20 competition with all six franchises returning. The tournament commences on Friday, 8th November 2019. The tournament is played in a double round-robin format with the team topping the points table qualifying for the finals, while the second and the third-placed teams playing the Eliminator to decide the second finalist. The Tshwane Spartans, who finished second from bottom during the last season, will hope that their current squad comprising the likes of former South African captain AB de Villiers and England all-rounder Tom Curran. de Villiers and Curran will be playing for the first time together in a T20 tournament.

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Mzansi Super League: Tshwane Spartans go for Protea power

South African wicket-keeper Heinrich Klassen, who recently made his Test debut in South Africa’s tour of India, will lead the Tshwane Spartans in the Mzansi Super League 2019. The Spartans boast of Proteas superstars AB de Villiers, fast bowlers Lungi Ngidi and Morne Morkel, batsmen Theunis de Bruyn and Dean Elgar and all-rounder Wian Mulder in their line-up. They also have Lutho Sipamla, who was the find of last season’s Mzansi Super League, after he picked up 16 wickets and finished as the second-highest wicket-taker. England all-rounder Tom Curran and former South African all-rounder Roelof van der Merwe, who currently represents the Netherlands, add much-needed firepower to the Tshwane Spartans. They have former South African keeper Mark Boucher as their head coach.

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Mzansi Super League: Tshwane Spartans pin hopes on AB de Villiers, Tom Curran  

Tshwane Spartans will be heavily reliant on the services of AB de Villiers and Tom Curran. AB de Villiers retired from international cricket in May 2018. The batsman has a stellar record for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL), and the Spartans would hope that the star batsman would provide stability in the middle order. Tom Curran, part of England’s World Cup-winning squad, has seen his stocks rise in the past 12 months and the franchise would hope that Curran can provide with some firepower late in the innings, while also hunt for wickets with pace duo Morne Morkel and Lungi Ngidi. The Tshwane Spartans have also picked up 17-year-old Afghani left-arm spinner Waqar Salamkheil. The mystery spinner has played only 8 T20 games and will be a surprise package for the batsman facing him in the Mzansi Super League.

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Tshwane Spartans Squad for MSL T20

AB de Villiers, Tom Curran, Lungi Ngidi, Theunis de Bruyn, Lutho Sipamla, Tony de Zorzi, Morné Morkel, Heinrich Klaasen (C & WK), Roelof van der Merwe, Pite van Biljon, Waqar Salamkheil, Dean Elgar, Wiaan Mulder, Vaughn van Jaarsveld and Corbin Bosch. 

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