Qeshile set to make his dreams come true
KEEPS wicket. Exciting batsman. Only 20 years old. This could easily have been AB de Villiers’s description 15 years ago.
It is no wonder Warriors starlet Sinethemba Qeshile holds the former Proteas captain in such high regard. He idolised De Villiers coming through the ranks.
“Growing up I looked up to AB de Villiers‚“Qeshile said after Proteas training yesterday.
“I liked the way he played. He was always calm around the crease and he played very well under pressure.
“I would like to achieve big things for myself in the game but it will obviously take some time to develop my game. It will take a few seasons to get there.”
Time is certainly not something being afforded to Qeshile. He is currently in the Proteas T20I squad preparing to make his international debut on his heroes’ former homeground, SuperSport Park, against Sri Lanka tonight after just one season of franchise cricket.
It has been a phenomenal journey for the Hudson Park graduate.
Only last year he was still absorbing being left out of the SA Under-19 World Cup squad, despite being selected for the SA Schools side two years in a row.
Now he is preparing to face the likes of Lasith Malinga.
“I started my first franchise season last year,” he said.
“I have really enjoyed it and my intention is to take things simple going forward. I scored fifties in the longer format which fell short of a hundred‚ but that form has helped me with confidence going into the limited overs format.
“Obviously it would be a huge honour and privilege to play for my country. I would know that the work of the past few years has actually paid off.
“Having said that‚ there is still a lot of hard work ahead. But at the moment I just want to stay in the present and focus on what is in front of me. I am sure results will follow.”
Qeshile could be part of a string of changes made to the Proteas side that snuck home on a Super Over at Newlands on Tuesday evening.
Quinton de Kock, Faf du Plessis and Kagiso Rabada have all been rested for the remaining two matches. Fast bowlers Lungi Ngidi and Anrich Nortje are also unavailable due to their fitness being monitored ahead of the World Cup.
Ngidi sustained a left side strain during the fifth ODI against Sri Lanka, while Nortje has been ruled out due to a right shoulder injury.
They will also miss the upcoming Indian Premier League. Ngidi played a significant part in driving the Chennai Super Kings to the title last year, while Nortje was bought by the Kolkata Knight Riders for around R400 000 in December last year.
Proteas squad for second and third T20Is:
JP Duminy (capt), Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Chris Morris, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Sinethemba Qeshile, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lutho Sipamla, Dale Steyn, Rassie van der Dussen