LOCAL CRICKET NEWS - South Western Districts Cricket on Monday announced the final Garden Route Badgers squad for the 2026/27 season.
The squad boasts a number of new players, with the most significant new acquisition the former Protea top order batsman, Janneman Malan.
The 30-year-old Malan has represented the Proteas in 23 One-Day-internationals and 11 T20 tests.
He scored three international centuries with a highest score of 177.
The new players will step into the gap left by the two top batsmen, George van Heerden and Ruan Terblanche who are joining Division 1 next season.
Van Heerden, who also captained the Badgers in the white ball format, will move to the Knights in Bloemfontein, who have been promoted to Division 1.
Terblanche, who spent three seasons with the Oudtshoorn-based team, has been contracted by Boland after having a fine season with the bat.
A third player, the all-rounder Kyle Jacobs, will join the Northern Cape Heat.
The coaching team remains Lotle Sesele (head coach), Warren Bell (assistant coach) and Tyler Easton (strength and conditioning coach).
The contracted 2026/27 squad is:
11 professional contracts
Liam Alder, Banele Cele, Benni Hansen, Zack Momberg, Pheko Moletsane, Nathan Engelbrecht, Yaseen Valli, Janneman Malan, Slade van Staden, Leo Sadler and Modise Maloka
High performance contracts
Enathi Kitshini, Nipho Mpungose and Jade Richter
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