South Africa pace legend Dale Steyn is set to play the next edition of Mzansi Super League after being retained for the task by Cape Town Blitz.
The great man announced his retirement from Test cricket on Monday (August 5) as he wishes to prolong career in white-ball cricket for the Proteas.
It is understood, Cricket South Africa has received a list of around 250 players, including T20 specialists and various Kolpak cricketers, who have signed the agreement to enter the draft for the second season of MSL.
The draft is scheduled to take place soon, while the main tournament will be slotted in November-December phase of the next home summer.
"This is confirmation that MSL is now an established global brand that is taking its place at the head table alongside the other Global T20 events," CSA Chief Executive Thabang Moroe was quoted as saying by Sport24.
"We have drawn interest from around the world with players applying from virtually all the top tier international countries. To this can be added our Proteas, past and present, who will add further lustre to our tournament."
"This will certainly be the biggest T20 event we have hosted since the inaugural ICC T20 World Cup that was staged here in 2007 and became the fore-runner of all the global T20 events that followed."
"We look forward to adding yet another highlight to our home international season that will be followed by the incoming tours by England and Australia. All our stake holders can look forward to an exciting 2019/20 summer," he concluded.
Here's a full list of players retained by the six MSL teams:
Cape Town Blitz: Asif Ali, Janneman Malan, Anrich Nortje, Dale Steyn
Durban Heat: Kyle Abbott, Sarel Erwee, Keshav Maharaj, David Miller, Khaya Zondo
Jozi Stars: Dan Christian, Reeza Hendricks, Duanne Olivier, Sinethemba Qeshile, Ryan Rickelton, Rassie van der Dussen
Nelson Mandela Bay Giants: Junior Dala, Heino Kuhn, Marco Marais, Chris Morris, Jon-Jon Smuts
Paarl Rocks: Henry Davids, Cameron Delport, Bjorn Fortuin, Aiden Markram, Mangaliso Mosehle, Tabraiz Shamsi
Tshwane Spartans: Theunis de Bruyn, Tony de Zorzi, Lungi Ngidi, Lutho Sipamla
(Inputs from Sport24)
