The Chennai Super Kings-owned Johannesburg franchise is extremely happy after securing the services of former South African skipper Faf du Plessis for the inaugural edition of the CSA T20 league.
Du Plessis, who was associated with CSK in the IPL from 2011 to 2021 barring 2016 and 2017 when the team was suspended, was recently signed by the Johannesburg franchise.
However, Du Plessis was not retained by CSK ahead of the IPL 2022 auction and he was eventually fetched by the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the auction earlier this year.
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“Faf (Du Plessis) has been a backbone of Chennai Super Kings in the IPL for the last 10 years. He has been one of the most consistent players for our team. We were not fortunate to pick him during the last auction in the IPL. We were looking for an opportunity and that came up in the CSA T20 League,” said CSK CEO KS Viswanathan in a press release.
“We are happy that we got Faf back with the Super Kings family. It will be a very good opportunity for Faf to come back and do as well as he did for the Chennai Super Kings. His experience as South African player and captain, knowing the conditions, will be invaluable. I’m sure that with his entry into the team, we should have a good future,” he added.
Besides Faf du Plessis, the Johannesburg franchise also bought England all-rounder Moeen Ali, Sri Lankan spinner Maheesh Theekshana, West Indies all-rounder Romario Shepherd, and South African pacer Gerald Coetzee.
“As per the rules of CSA, we are eligible to take four players from the contracted list of players who are available… one marquee player from South Africa. From the balance three, not more than two can be from one country,” Viswanathan said.
“We have decided to pick Faf, Moeen, Maheesh and Romario as the four players who have been contracted by Cricket South Africa. We are also allowed to take one development player from South Africa. We have decided on Gerald, as recommended by Faf,” he added.
The CSK CEO also lauded Moeen Ali, saying that the all-rounder’s experience in white-ball cricket will be handy for the side.
“Everybody is aware of his potential as an all-rounder and his skills in white-ball cricket. We are very happy to have retained Moeen,” Viswanathan said.
He also explained why the franchise put their money on 22-year-old Theekshana, who made his CSK debut earlier this year.
“In South African conditions, a spinner of his calibre will be of great advantage and I’m sure that he will be able to do well there,” Viswanathan said.
“I’m sure that with the auction coming up in mid-September, we should be able to pick a good side,” he added.
The inaugural edition of the CSA T20 League is slated to be held next year and all the six franchises in the competition have been purchased by current IPL team owners.
(With PTI inputs)
