Midrand Knights unperturbed by delayed start to season
MALBORO – The Midrand Knights Cricket Club looks forward to recruiting new players and pre-season training before the year is done.
The official start to the next club cricket season has moved to January, but the Midrand Knights Cricket Club is unperturbed by this.
Club chairperson, TK Chettiar admitted coaches and players were initially disappointed to hear this as they were eager and ready to play cricket again safely.
But then he alluded to the pre-season practices players could benefit from before the year’s end. “We are not allowed practice games yet but we can recruit new players and focus on our pre-season training,” Chettiar said.
“We were very disappointed that we could not play cricket under lockdown Level 1 as we were ready and would take all precautions.”
The last season was cut a few weeks short in May and the club based at Marlboro Stadium normally hosts its Annual Junior Tournament in September, which has had to be postponed.
“The guys are itching to play again and CGL [Central Gauteng Lions] has put in place some nice T20 ad 35-over tournaments for the clubs. We are also earnestly looking to start a women’s team this year and keep our junior and adult teams as strong as they were last season,” Chettiar added.
He invited any women and girls interested in playing to contact the club.
In the 2020/21 season, CGL will host two leagues and two tournaments for women – The Imperial Premier League, Presidents League, Black Widow T20 Tournament and Super 4s.
The men’s division will also benefit from a host of Saturday and Sunday leagues, tournaments and knock-out cups. “Once Cricket South Africa confirms that practices can be held again, we will host trials for our teams. We currently have three Sunday and four Saturday men’s teams and our junior structure consists of U9s, U11s and U13s.”
When practices and trials are running again, Chettiar promised all safety protocols regarding the pandemic will be in place. These will include sanitising, temperature checks, social distancing and no shining of the cricket balls.
Details: TK Chettiar info@1stopfitmentcentre.co.za; 082 896 1300.
