Proteas batter Dewald Brevis has validated the high standard of the SA20, further highlighting the flaws in Cricket South Africa’s (CSA) rushed decision to select the national squad for the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
The 22-year-old smashed the Pretoria Capitals (PC) into the SA20 final on Wednesday night with a daring display of power hitting to lead his team to a seven-wicket victory over the Sunrisers Eastern Cape (SEC) in Qualifier 1.
Luckily, Brevis has been selected to play for the Proteas in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in February, but his recent display calls into question CSA’s selection policy regarding the impact of the SA20 on form.
In that light, the policy did not make sense then, and it does not make sense now, as to why the Proteas squad for next month’s T20 World Cup was announced on 2 January — 29 days ahead of the ICC deadline and only eight days into the SA20.
The squad was selected in disregard of the tournament, with convenor of selectors Patrick Moroney suggesting that the SA20 was not an appropriate platform to scout the form and readiness of players for a World Cup.
“It’s still fairly domestic,” Moroney said then, appearing to downplay some fine displays in the tournament, such as Ryan Rickelton’s century in the opening game of the SA20. Rickelton is not a part of the T20 World Cup squad. That is also true of bowler Ottniel Baartman, who has been one of the best players of the league this season.
Brevis, meanwhile, reiterated that the SA20 is a high-level competition.
“This is a really high, very, very great competition where guys play at a high level,” Brevis said, after the PC beat SEC. “It’s very strong, so it all leads to that.”
Not only do the players attest to the high standard of cricket, but common sense suggests that waiting for the conclusion of the SA20 before finalising the squad would have been the wiser path.
Now, Moroney and Proteas coach Shukri Conrad may need to reconsider their plans as injury scares mount. Batters Donovan Ferreira and David Miller experienced niggles during the tournament recently, while fast bowler Lungi Ngidi was heavily strapped before Qualifier 1.
Ngidi bowled only two overs before walking off the field at Kingsmead on Wednesday night.
On Wednesday night, Brevis blasted an unbeaten 75 off 38 balls to lead PC to their second-ever SA20 final.
Brevis emphasised that the innings was special, but was happy to remind all that his innings could not have been built without the help of Bryce Parsons, who scored 60 off 44 balls and also contributed in the bowling department (3/10).
“It was very special to be able to be there for the boys,” Brevis said.
“Bryce played such a key role as well with the ball in hand and the batting. It was really nice to know that we’re going straight into the final,” he said.
Who will Sunrisers face in #BetwaySA20 Qualifier 2? Tonight’s the night.#WelcomeToIncredible pic.twitter.com/ZQLsKwjdJz
— Betway SA20 (@SA20_League) January 22, 2026
“We’ve got some time to recover and to prepare. We are very proud of the boys; it was a team effort. We all fought out there, and it was just very enjoyable to be out there and walking off the field with everyone.”
Pretoria Capitals now await their opponent for Sunday’s final at Newlands Stadium in Cape Town. That will be decided over the next two days; on Thursday, Paarl Royals host Joburg Super Kings in the Eliminator.
The winner of that match will then go on to Qualifier Two on Friday, where they will meet the former champions, Sunrisers Eastern Cape, for a spot in the final.
