Proteas Veterans

Proteas Veterans captain Louis Koen says preparations for the Over-50s Cricket World Cup, which starts on Monday, 6 March, are going well. Photo: Supplied

Proteas Veterans targeting Over-50s Cricket World Cup title

Proteas Veterans captain Louis Koen says preparations for the Over-50s Cricket World Cup, which starts on Monday, 6 March, are going well.

Proteas Veterans

Proteas Veterans captain Louis Koen says preparations for the Over-50s Cricket World Cup, which starts on Monday, 6 March, are going well. Photo: Supplied

Proteas Veterans captain Louis Koen says preparations for the Over-50s Cricket World Cup, which starts on Monday, 6 March, are going well and that his squad of 18 players is ready to take on the world and hopefully claim top honours.

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The South Africans are among the favourites heading into the tournament, which will again be sponsored by Evergreen Lifestyle, and despite some obvious logistical challenges, Koen says everyone is working hard to bring the trophy home.

“We would have loved to have a training camp before the tournament but that has not been possible,” he says.

“Fortunately, we can draw on our many years of experience along with l the matches we played at the Interprovincial Tournament and the Quadrangular Series [against Namibia, Zimbabwe and an SA Invitational XI].

“I know the guys have been training very hard and looking after themselves, which is very important because it’s a two-week tournament with eight games. The guys are very committed, and everyone’s looking forward to the tournament.”

Over-50s Cricket World Cup has 14 entrants

Fourteen teams from around the world – including hosts South Africa, England, Wales, Australia, West Indies, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Zimbabwe, India, United Arab Emirates, Namibia, United States and Canada – will take part in the tournament.

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Qualifying games will be played at various venues across Cape Town, including Claremont Cricket Club, Western Province Cricket Club, Green Point Cricket Club and Cape Town Cricket Club, as well as at the University of Stellenbosch and several high schools in the area.

The final, which takes place on Monday, 20 March, will be hosted at the iconic Newlands Cricket Ground, with tournament ambassadors Mike Proctor, Barry Richards and Omar Henry in attendance.

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South Africa is one of the favourites to feature in the decider, given the all-round quality of the squad and the additional experience of former national team players Alan Dawson and Clive Eksteen, and provincial players including South Western Districts fast bowler, James Albanie.

Dawson, a former South African Cricketer of the Year, says the team has been putting in the hard yards and will be ready to fire, come the opening match against India on 6 March at Wynberg Cricket Club.

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“It’s been great meeting up with the guys again and you can see everyone is totally focused on the job at hand”, he says.

“It’s going to be a challenge playing so many games in such a short space of time, but we have a really strong squad with experienced big-game players throughout. We’re not getting ahead of ourselves, but we are definitely planning do play at Newlands on March 20.”

South Africa’s Division B opponents include India, Pakistan, Wales, Namibia, England and UAE.