MI Cape Town on Thursday (September 15) announced its coaching team for the inaugural edition of Cricket South Africa T20 League, scheduled to be played in 2023.
Former Australia opener Simon Katich has been appointed as the head coach, while South African legend Hashim Amla will join the team as batting coach.
While Katich represented Australia in 56 Tests, 45 ODIs and three T20Is and is known for his straightforward and intelligent approach to the game, Amla played 124 Tests, 181 ODIs and 44 T20Is for the Proteas and ended with more than 18000 international runs and 55 centuries to his name.
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“It is an absolute honour to be offered the position of head coach for MI Cape Town,” Katich said in a statement. “It is always special to put together a new team, hone skills and build a team culture. I look forward to ensuring that MI Cape Town develops into a team that leverages local talent and has MI core values at its heart."
On the other hand, Amla is excited about his new role and hopes that the T20 league will make South African cricket stronger.
“I’m thrilled to take up this assignment with MI Cape town. Big thanks to MI owners, management and my manager for facilitating this so smoothly. From everything they have planned it looks like it’s going to be amazing platform that will attract our local talent. Bringing my experience as a player and mentor I am excited to help MI Cape Town players bring the best out of themselves and also make SA cricket stronger," Amla said.
Also joining the franchise are former New Zealand batter James Pamment as fielding coach along and ex-South African all-rounder Robin Peterson as the team General Manager.
While Pamment is the present Mumbai Indians fielding coach, Peterson has played for MI in the past.
“I’m happy to welcome Simon and Hashim on MI Cape Town coaching team. Together with James and Robin, we’ll be a team that will grow the MI brand of cricket in South Africa and bring to this cricket loving country the values and ethos MI stands for," Akash Ambani, Chairman, Reliance Jio Infocomm said.
MI Cape Town have already announced the signing of five players namely Kagiso Rabada, Dewald Brevis, Rashid Khan, Sam Curran and Liam Livingstone ahead of the players' auction, due to be held on September 19.
