Former New Zealand captain Kane Williamson is scheduled to return to the SA20 League, replacing Bangladesh spinner Taijul Islam with Durban’s Super Giants (DSG) for the 2025-26 season. The franchise signed Taijul for R500,000 at the super auction in September, but the left-arm spinner is now unavailable for the tournament’s fourth edition.
Williamson, who made his SA20 debut with DSG last season, has returned to the team after being discharged earlier this year despite being their leading run-scorer. The seasoned right-hander scored 233 runs in eight matches, with an excellent average of 46.60 and strike rate of 118.87. Despite his efforts, DSG had a dismal campaign, ending at the bottom of the standings.
The 35-year-old’s return to SA20 marks another chapter in his burgeoning participation in global franchise cricket. Williamson was named strategic advisor for the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) of the Indian Premier League (IPL) last month, adding to his off-field credentials. Following his first SA20 appearance earlier this year, he made his debut in The Hundred and returned to England’s Vitality Blast after a seven-year layoff.
Kane Williamson signed a casual arrangement with New Zealand Cricket (NZC) in June, giving him more freedom to compete in international tournaments.
The experienced hitter recently announced his retirement from T20 internationals, capping off a successful career in the format with the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup only three months away.
At the SA20 next season, Williamson will reunite with several marquee players, including Afghanistan’s Noor Ahmad, who has been retained, and pre-signed stars Sunil Narine and Jos Buttler. Durban’s Super Giants will be hoping that Williamson’s leadership experience and consistency at the crease can inspire a turnaround after their underwhelming 2024-25 campaign.
The fourth edition of the SA20 is set to begin on December 26, with Durban’s Super Giants facing MI Cape Town in the opening fixture at Newlands, Cape Town.
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