Early peek of Giants for fans

NMB Giants fans will catch a first glimpse of their new heroes when the squad trains at St George’s Park for the first time on Monday afternoon.

Giants team manager Shafiek Abrahams confirmed the players will start arriving ahead of the start of the inaugural Mzansi Super League T20 on November 16.

Cape Town Blitz and Tshwane Spartans get the tournament ball rolling at Newlands in Cape Town next Friday, while the Giants play their opening fixture away to Jozi Stars at the Wanderers in Johannesburg next Saturday.

“The guys are coming in from Sunday and Monday. We’ll have our first run around here at St George’s on Monday afternoon,” former Proteas and Eastern Province offspinner Abrahams said on Monday.

The squad will, however, be without both marquee players and its most expensive star for the opening game.

“Imran Tahir and Chris Morris will join us for the second match (away to the Cape Town Blitz) while (Englishman) Jason Roy is only likely be with us in early December. We just waiting for the exact date of his flight,” said Abrahams.

This means that marquee batsman Roy, who has been in good form for England in recent weeks, will miss at least the first six matches of the tournament, possibly seven.

The reason for his delay is that he, like many other international players, had previously signed to play in the T10 League that runs from November 23 until December 2 in Sharjah.

The other Englishman in the squad is wicketkeeper Ben Duckett and he will be available from the first game.

Abrahams said it has been a busy few weeks since the tournament was launched as administrators got the final plans in place.

Special marketing programmes are being put in place to encourage fans to pack out St George’s Park on matchdays.

“There’s been a buzz around St George’s Park. We are working around the clock trying to get as many people in here as we can.

“At the moment we also getting flights and logistics arranged because it’s back-toback stuff now.”

Coach Eric Simons will also arrive in the Bay on Monday morning to head up the first training session with 13 of his players.

Abrahams said team management are pleased with the squad assembled at the player draft.

“We are happy with what we got. We are covering all bases and it’s basically to suit what we can expect at St George’s Park.” Giants’ squad is:

Imran Tahir, Jason Roy, Chris Morris, Jon-Jon Smuts, Junior Dala, Christiaan Jonker, Aaron Phangiso, Ben Duckett, Sisanda Magala, Ryan McLaren, Heino Kuhn, Marco Marais, Dylan Matthews, Lizaard Williams, Rudi Second, Carmi le Roux

We are working around the clock trying to get as many people in here as we can