CAPE TOWN – South Africa middle-order batsman Farhaan Behardien will lead the Cape Town Blitz in the Mzansi Super League, coach Ashwell Prince confirmed on Friday.
Behardien, who has played 32 international T20 matches, is no stranger to the captaincy role as he captained the SA for three T20 Internationals against Sri Lanka in 2017.
Quinton de Kock and Dawid Malan were also considered for the captaincy.
“It's an honour and a privilege being called on to lead the Cape Town Blitz. The game itself is high pressured, so the team culture and environment need to be relaxed and light-hearted,” Behardien said.
“Everybody in the group must grow and make their own decisions in pressure situations. I'll try to guide some of the younger guys in tough situations but will lean on Quinton de Kock and Dale Steyn for assistance, where needed.
“Being a Cape Town boy does not add any further pressure to the role of captain whatsoever. The plan is to approach this competition to have some fun with the Cape Town Blitz,” he added.
Behardien captained South Africa for three T20 Internationals against Sri Lanka in 2017. Photo: Chris Ricco/BackpagePix
Prince stated that it was not an easy decision to make and considered knowledge of the opposition as a key aspect.
“I feel it is really important for the captain to have a great deal of knowledge of the opposition players and that tilted things into his favour. He's played a lot of cricket against most of the opposition players,” Prince said.
“Obviously, De Kock and Malan were also considered for the captaincy role,” he added.
The 35-year-old Behardien is currently in Australia with South Africa for a three-match ODI Series and a one-off T20 and will miss the home match against the Tshwane Spartans (November 16) and the Durban Heat (November 18) in Durban.
Prince was still undecided about who will lead the team for those matches but said that Malan, who currently captains Middlesex in England, will “probably” captain the team.
Cape Town Blitz hosts the Tshwane Spartans at Newlands for the opening match of the Mzansi Super League on November 16.