Dolphins announce new additions to their men’s and women’s squads

Seshnie Naidu is among the new players awarded their first full contracts with the Hollywoodbets Dolphins when the side confirmed their squads for 2024/25 season.

The Hollywoodbets Dolphins men’s and women’s squads for the upcoming season have been confirmed, with a few exciting new players joining the Durban-based sides.

At the end of last season, the Dolphins men’s side said goodbye to Grant Roelofsen, Andile Phehlukwayo and Odirile Modimokoane, who will be joining the Rocks, the Titans and North West respectively. In the women’s side, Luyanda Nzuza will be moving to the Knights on loan.

The Hollywoodbets Dolphins men’s team have bolstered their squads with some exciting young talent, said Dolphins men’s head coach, Imraan Khan.

“After some strong performances for the Dolphins over the past few seasons, former Kearsney College star Brad Porteous has been awarded his first full contract with the Dolphins and will be joined by 22-year-old Hanu Viljoen who moves to Durban from the Northern Cape,” said Khan.

“The right-hander boasts an impressive record in first class cricket where he averages just shy of 60 from the 15 matches that he has played.”

Khan added that after impressing during his first stint with the Dolphins, young seamer, Tristan Luus has been awarded a rookie contract along with the SA Under-19 team-mate and former Westville pupil Romashen Pillay. Hollywoodbets Dolphins High Performance members, Banele Cele and Slade van Staden have been added to the greater Hollywoodbets Dolphins Men’s squad showing the strength in the Hollywoodbets Dolphins pipeline.

Joining the Dolphins’ women’s side from the start of the new season will be the experienced Namibian international, Yasmeen Khan.

Ladies head coach Angelique Taai, said Yasmeen Khan has played more than 70 matches for Namibia in the T20 format and has the ability to cover the wicket-keeper/batter role if need be at the Dolphins.

There are also a couple of newly contracted players in the Dolphins women’s set up who have made the step up, she added. Nosihle Sisanda Ngubane makes the step up to a full contact. After impressing for the SA Emerging side recently Seshnie Naidu has also been awarded her first full contract, added Ms Taai.

The Dolphins men’s side will still have Keshav Maharaj and David Miller as their two Proteas contracted players and the women’s side retain Nonkululeko Mlaba and newly Proteas contracted Ayanda Hlubi as their nationally contracted players.

Khan said they’ll boast a core of hugely experienced players with the likes of Prenelan Subrayen, Khaya Zondo, Jon-Jon Smuts and SJ Erwee.

“We wish Grant, Odirile, and Andile all the best on their next chapter. They have all served Dolphins Cricket incredibly well,” said Khan.

“With that said, we’ve retained a strong core of experienced players and added some exciting young stars that we feel are ready to make that step up this coming season. Having two SA Under-19 stars in Tristan (Luus) and Romeshan (Pillay) is also exciting and with Hanu (Viljoen) joining us we’re looking forward to hitting the ground running in the pre-season.

“Brad has become an important member of the Dolphins squad and we’re happy to have him on a full contract for the first time.”

After winning the CSA One Day Cup title last season, the Hollywoodbets Dolphins women’s team are confident that they can build on that win in the new season.

Taai said she is excited by the squad that she has at her disposal for the new season.

“It’s always a good feeling gathering at the start of the pre-season with the squad after a break. We are excited to welcome an international into our mix in Yasmeen (Khan), and to have her experience is exceptional and we are looking forward to the value that she can add. Well done to all the players on their contracts and we feel we’ve got another strong squad of players for the new season,” said Taai.