Dolphins Cricketers Selected for SA Emerging Tour of Bangladesh 2025

Dolphins Cricketers Gear Up for Busy Winter with SA Emerging Tour to Bangladesh

As winter sets in across South Africa, a group of talented cricketers from the Hollywoodbets Dolphins franchise will be swapping coastal comfort for subcontinental challenges. Five standout players from the Durban-based team have been selected for South Africa's Emerging Men's and Women's squads on their upcoming tour of Bangladesh this May, reinforcing the growing impact of the franchise at national level.

Alexandra Candler and Nicole de Klerk headline the women’s contingent, earning well-deserved recognition after stellar domestic seasons. On the men’s side, Romashan Pillay, Andile Simelane, and Nqobani Mokoena will don the green and gold, continuing their rise through the national pipeline. It’s a proud moment not just for the players, but for the Dolphins setup, which continues to churn out elite cricketing talent.

Dolphins Women Stars Set for International Testing Ground

Candler and De Klerk's selection comes on the back of standout performances in the 2024-25 domestic calendar. De Klerk ended the Hollywoodbets Pro20 season as the joint top-scorer, demonstrating not just technical finesse but also an ability to shift gears at crucial moments. Her aggressive top-order presence was a cornerstone in many of the Dolphins’ successful outings.

Candler, meanwhile, once again proved to be the bedrock of the Dolphins’ batting line-up. Her consistent run-scoring, particularly in the longer Pro50 format, saw her finish as the tournament’s leading run-getter. Known for her composure under pressure and ability to anchor an innings, she brings vital experience to the SA Emerging Women’s squad.

Adding further value to the team will be Dolphins Ladies head coach Angelique Taai, who will serve as the bowling coach for the tour. Her insights, drawn from a long playing and coaching career, are expected to bolster the team’s strategy in unfamiliar conditions.

Young Dolphins Men Embrace the Challenge

From the men’s unit, all-rounder Andile Simelane stands out as a player with senior-level international exposure, having featured in the T20 format for the Proteas. Simelane's recent performances in the CSA T20 Challenge highlighted his development, combining hard-hitting lower-order batting with reliable seam bowling. The tour offers him a platform to solidify his credentials for higher honours.

Romashan Pillay, fresh off his debut professional season, brings an exciting mix of technique and temperament. His maturity at the crease and part-time bowling ability offer valuable flexibility. Having already represented South Africa at the Under-19 level, the Emerging tour marks a logical next step.

Nqobani Mokoena, just 18, is the youngest of the lot. A promising seamer, he has already gained important List-A experience with the SA Under-19 team in the recent Division 2 One Day Cup. Bangladesh's spin-friendly conditions might not naturally favour fast bowlers, but Mokoena’s raw pace and enthusiasm could prove to be x-factors.

Analyst Kushen Kishun, part of the Dolphins men’s coaching staff, will also be on the tour, further extending the franchise’s influence beyond the playing field. His work behind the scenes is expected to play a crucial role in tailoring strategies for the Bangladesh leg.

Franchise Pride and National Aspirations

For KZN Cricket CEO Heinrich Strydom, this surge in national call-ups is a ringing endorsement of the Dolphins’ developmental pathways. "We are incredibly proud of the efforts of our players, and we are excited to see how they fare in such foreign conditions," said Strydom. "To be able to go on a tour to Bangladesh and experience what it's like to play there can only help in growing their games."

The Emerging tour not only provides crucial exposure but also acts as a key stepping stone toward the Proteas setup. The subcontinental tour will challenge every aspect of the players’ game technique, fitness, and mental resolve.

Looking Ahead

The SA Emerging squads will face Bangladesh’s emerging units in both white-ball and red-ball formats throughout May. For the Dolphins representatives, it’s an opportunity to showcase the depth and quality coming through the KwaZulu-Natal pipeline. With continued support from the coaching staff and high-performance team, the franchise’s contribution to South African cricket looks set to grow.

Whether it's Alexandra Candler anchoring an innings, Simelane breaking partnerships, or Mokoena steaming in with a new ball, all eyes will be on how the Dolphins' rising stars perform on Asian soil.