MI Cape Town secure Ben Stokes and Azmatullah Omarzai for SA20 2025 campaign
MI Cape Town has bolstered its squad for the upcoming SA20 season by acquiring England Test captain Ben Stokes and Afghanistan allrounder Azmatullah Omarzai. With a star-studded lineup, the Kieron Pollard-led side hopes to reverse its fortunes after finishing last in the previous two seasons.
According to a report from ESPNcricinfo last month, SA20 franchises have been focusing on securing elite Test players from England for the 2025 season, after many were unavailable for the 2024 edition due to their commitments on the India tour. Joe Root has joined Paarl Royals, while Pretoria Capitals have signed Ollie Pope. Additionally, Jonny Bairstow has been snapped up by Joburg Super Kings, Chris Woakes by Durban's Super Giants, and Zak Crawley by Sunrisers Eastern Cape, the two-time champions of the league.
The inclusion of Ben Stokes is especially notable, given that he has been sidelined from the English squad for the entire summer due to a hamstring injury. Stokes has not participated in white-ball cricket for England since the 2023 ODI World Cup, and his last T20I appearance was in November 2022, where he played a pivotal role in England's T20 World Cup triumph.
Despite his current injury, the ECB has indicated that Stokes aims to return for the Test tour of Pakistan in October. Meanwhile, Omarzai's addition to MI Cape Town further enhances the team's all-round strength, bringing significant depth to their roster.
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