South African domestic opening batsman Aiden Markram has been announced as the captain of Multiply Titans for the impending Sunfoil Series’ four-day set-up within the country.
“It’s a massive honour for me as a young player to lead the quality players that are amongst the Titans squad,” Markram was quoted as saying by Titans.
The tournament is comprised of six teams which will be home to six teams, as it would run through September 19 and to February 18.
The Sunfoil Series has as many as 24 four-day games scheduled, and Titans will take on Knights, in the final league game at Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein, next year.
The 22-year-old right-handed batsman Markram has replaced former South African and long-term skipper Henry Davids.
“I will always have the team’s interest at heart and as long as the team does well, I will be happy. The goal will be to win the Sunfoil Series,” Markram maintained.
Pertinently, the 37-year-old Stellenbosch-born, Henry, who has played nine Twenty20 internationals and two One-day internationals for the Proteas stepped down as Titans captain recently.
Owing to the long-term relation, Henry served as the captain of Titans for five seasons while witnessing the major improvement in the side throughout past many years.
On the other side, rising against the tide, the promising youngster Markram has tasted the success in his first-class set-up.
In the 2016-17 season, Markram impressed the cricketing fraternity in South Africa after scoring 565 runs at an average of 51.36.
“There’s plenty of experienced players in the changing room, so I will try and absorb as much information from them as possible to ensure the team goes in the right direction,” Markram asserted.
The right-handed Markram smashed two hundreds and two fifties respectively in the same season.
The reports suggested Markram will be part of the Titans’ Momentum One-Day Cup campaign as a vice-captain in the limited-over format and the side will be led by bowling all-rounder Albie Morkel, who has been a prominent figure in the Proteas national setup.
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Markram led South Africa A against England Lions in June this year followed by two-match home series in August against India A
It would be his first domestic season, as a skipper for Titans side which includes South African captain Faf du Plessis, southpaw Quinton de Kock, Morne Morkel.
However, seen as a different format, Markram would face the litmus test at home while leading the quality side in home fixtures.
The Titans will face off Hollywoodbets Dolphins at SuperSport Park in Centurion on September 19 and 22.
Here’s Titans 14-member Squad: Aiden Markram (Skipper), Farhaan Behardien, Junior Dala, Henry Davids, Quinton de Kock (Wk), Tony de Zorzi, Faf du Plessis, Dean Elgar, Morne Morkel, Alfred Mothoa, Jonathan Vandiar, Rowan Richards, Tabraiz Shamsi and Malusi Siboto.