MI Cape Town coach Robin Peterson has heaped praise on captain Rashid Khan for the upturn in the team’s performances this season.
After leading MICT in Season 1, Rashid missed last season due to injury and was replaced by West Indian all-rounder Kieron Pollard.
But the Afghanistan superstar has returned in Season 3 and overseen a renaissance down at Newlands.
MICT are well placed to reach the playoffs for the first time, with 16 points after six matches, and are currently in third position ahead of a bumper clash against Durban’s Super Giants at a sold-out Newlands tomorrow (5.30pm start).
“I think having Rashid back is a big thrill for us. He was fantastic in the first season in performance on the field. Obviously the second edition he missed through injury, but having worked with him in the Major League (Cricket) at MI New York, I’ve got to know Rashid really well,” Peterson said.
“He’s a great guy, an inspirational captain, so he leads by performance, and I think a lot of the players respect him in our environment.
“He has been a great addition, not only from a skills and experience point of view, but his leadership and the way he inspires players.
“I think it’ll go a long way, but that’s natural for him. That’s the way he leads his national team.
“He’s learnt a few lessons in the first edition, and by his own admission, he’s come back strong and had a point to prove.”
Peterson also feels the Cape squad have a better balance of experience and young players this season.
Although losing England Test captain Ben Stokes to injury on the eve of the competition was a big blow, Peterson feels that the new additions such as Reeza Hendricks, Colin Ingram and Trent Boult have played a major role in helping the likes of Connor Esterhuizen and Dewald Brevis settle into their respective roles.
“The additions all come with a wealth of international experience. They’ve played in leagues around the world. They’re respected in the environment,” Peterson said.
“That’s the one thing we’ve added this season. I’ve taken a bit of a punt on a couple of the youngsters. Brevi is still relatively young with Connor. Already, you have the makings of a pretty good team in a couple of years’ time.
An honest assessment of #DSGvMICT ahead of round 2️⃣ on Saturday ⚔️#MICapeTown #OneFamily #BetwaySA20 pic.twitter.com/oPw3bFA6I9
“Of course, if we put them in the jersey, they can perform straight away.
“You take the disappointments and the failures with young players, and you work through it with them.
“There’s definitely an element of yes, they can perform straight away if they’re to get an opportunity, but you also look long-term at what they’re capable of in the future.
“You can’t only have an experienced team. You need some young energy to inject in the group. That’s certainly what our young players have brought to our team.” | Independent Media Sport