CRICKET NEWS - The Garden Route Badgers have intensified their focus in their preparations for the upcoming season.

All the players are back from overseas, and preparations under the guidance of the newly appointed head coach, Lotle Sesele, are in full swing.

The campaign for the 2025/26 season will kick off on 2 October with a four-day match against Limpopo Impala in Polokwane. 

Next, the Oudtshoorn-based side will take on the Mpumalanga Rhinos in Oudtshoorn in a four-day match on 16 October, whereafter the T20 challenge will start.

Sesele has confirmed that Yaseen Valli (red ball) and George van Heerden (white ball; 50 over and T20 format) will be the captains for the upcoming season. 

"We have full confidence in their leadership abilities, and we coaching staff also trust the dual roles will not impact on our plans to have a successful season," Sesele said.

He also confirmed that a replacement for the contracted Luke Beaufort (wicket keeper/batsman) who recently announced his retirement from the game will be announced soon. 

Beaufort, a former SA U19 player, has accepted a corporate job offer in the UK.

Fixtures for the season:

CSA Division 2 T20 Challenge

• 25 October: vs Limpopo Impalas (Cricket Club Polokwane)

• 29 October: vs Eastern Cape Iinyathi (Recreation Ground; Oudtshoorn)

• 2 November: vs Northern Cape (Kimberley Oval; Kimberley)

• 8 November: vs Mpumalanga Rhinos (Recreation Ground; Oudtshoorn)

• 12 November: vs Eastern Storms (Recreation Ground; Oudtshoorn)

• 15 November: vs Free State (Mangaung Oval)

• 18 Novemebr: Division 2 T20 Challenge - Qualifier 1

• 19 November: Division 2 T20 Challenge - Eliminator

• 21 November: Division 2 T20 Challenge - Qualifier 2

• 23 November: Division 2 T20 Challenge - Final.

CSA Four-day series: Division 2

• 2-5 October: vs Limpopo Impalas (Cricket Club Polokwane)

• 16-19 October: vs Mpumalanga Rhinos (Recreation Ground; Oudtshoorn)

• 18-21 December: vs Eastern Cape Iinyathi (Recreation Ground; Oudtshoorn)

• 8-11 January: vs Northern Cape (Kimberley Oval; Kimberley)

• 15-18 January: vs Free State (Mangaung Oval)

• 29 Jan - 1 Feb: vs Eastern Storms (Recreation Ground; Oudtshoorn)

• 6-10 February: Final.

CSA One-day domestic competition: Division 2

• 21 February: vs Northern Cape (Recreation Ground; Oudtshoorn)

• 25 February: vs Mpumalanga Rhinos (Uplands College; White River)

• 28 February: vs Eastern Storm (Willowmore Park; Benoni)

• 5 March: vs Free State (Recreation Ground; Oudtshoorn)

• 8 March: vs Eastern Cape Iianyathi (Buffalo Park East London)

• 11 March: vs SA Emerging (Recreation Ground; Oudtshoorn)

• 15 March: vs Limpopo Impalas (Recreation Ground; Oudtshoorn)

• 18 March: One-day domestic qualifier

• 22 March: One-day domestic final.

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