The 2021-22 Mzansi Super League mini-draft was held in Kimberley on Friday after the T20 Knock Out final.
The MSL makes its long-awaited return after the tournament was postponed in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The draft featured over 100 cricketers from Division Two sides, with only 16 players chosen to join the eight Division One teams that will be battling it out for the MSL 3.0 title from 7-28 February 2022.
Under the new South African domestic structure, the top division teams – the North West Dragons, Free State Knights, Boland Rocks, Western Province Blitz, Northerns Titans, Gauteng Lions, KZN Dolphins and EP Warriors – form part of the country’s elite professional setups.
These teams, in addition to the Proteas and overseas player quality still to come, will take to the field during next year’s four-week T20 cricket extravaganza with added local flavour.
The 16 players were split evenly across the eight teams, with only two standout second division players drafted into each MSL side to rub shoulders with some of the world’s best.
Cameron Delport, who has an extensive record of playing in T20 leagues around the world, headlined the mini-draft with the Knights picking up the left-hander as a third pick in the first round.
The breakout star from the T20 Knock Out, Herschell America, was picked up by new Division One side, the Dragons.
Jerry Nqolo’s recent performances for the Eastern Cape Iinyathi earned him a nod for the Warriors, while the big-hitting Marco Marais will play for the Titans.
ALSO READ: Knights crowned T20 Knock Out kings
Mzansi Super League 3.0 Mini-Draft:
| Gauteng Lions | Head coach: Wandile Gwavu |
| Round 1: Grant Thomson | Round 2: Malcolm Nofal |
| Free State Knights | Head coach: Allan Donald |
| Round 1: Cameron Delport | Round 2: Aubrey Swanepoel |
| KZN Dolphins | Head coach: Imraan Khan |
| Round 1: Evan Jones | Round 2: Rubin Hermann |
| Western Province Blitz | Head coach: Salieg Nackerdien |
| Round 1: Nqaba Peter | Round 2: Gideon Peters |
| North West Dragons | Head coach: Monty Jacobs |
| Round 1: Khwezi Gumede | Round 2: Herschell America |
| Boland Rocks | Head coach: Adrian Birrel |
| Round 1: Onke Nyaku | Round 2: Jurie Snyman |
| EP Warriors | Head coach: Robin Peterson |
| Round 1: Jerry Nqolo | Round 2: Clayton Bosch |
| Northerns Titans | Head coach: Mandla Mashimbyi |
| Round 1: Marco Marais | Round 2: Johan van Dyk |
