Teenager Kwena Maphaka, part of the Rajasthan Royals squad in IPL 2026, received Cricket South Africa’s central contract for the 2026-27 season on Tuesday.
The 19-year-old left-arm fast bowler was one of South Africa cricket team’s standout performers last year.
He bagged nine wickets in the T20 series against Australia in August, including a record-breaking 4/20 in Marrara, which made him the youngest bowler from a full-member nation to take four wickets in a T20I match.
Maphaka also represented South Africa in ODI and Test cricket last year and earned the T20 Challenge Player of the Season at the CSA Awards 2024-25.
The new CSA contracts will run from June 1, 2026, to May 31, 2027. Kwena Maphaka is also centrally contracted for the current season.
South Africa’s upcoming season will see the Proteas continue their ICC World Test Championship title defence, while also building towards the ODI World Cup 2027 on home soil.
The Proteas’ calendar includes several bilateral home series against Australia, Bangladesh and England, along with an away tour of Sri Lanka.
Never miss an update on Rajasthan Royals - get the latest articles, news, and more by clicking here!
The 20-year-old Lhuan-dre Pretorius and experienced Nandre Burger, meanwhile, were rewarded by CSA with spots in the list of Players of National Interest (PONI).
Structurally, the Players Of National Interest is designed to identify Division 1 players within the national succession pipeline and build depth across formats for international and South Africa A assignments.
Pretorius made headlines by becoming the youngest South African to score a Test century last year, smashing 153 on debut against Zimbabwe.
Burger, who was named Player of the Match in Rajasthan Royals’ IPL 2026 opener against Chennai Super Kings, also impressed on the international stage in 2025, appearing in ODIs and T20Is.
South Africa’s centrally contracted squad 2026-27
Temba Bavuma, David Bedingham, Ottneil Baartman, Corbin Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne.
South Africa’s Players of National Interest 2026-27
Marques Ackerman, Nandre Burger, Okuhle Cele, Gerald Coetzee, Connor Esterhuizen, Dian Forrester, Bjorn Fortuin, Zubayr Hamza, Jordan Hermann, Rubin Hermann, Nqobani Mokoena, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Nqaba Peter, Sinethemba Qeshile, Lesego Senokwane, Lutho Sipamla, Jason Smith, Prenelan Subrayen, Tiaan van Vuuren, Codi Yusuf.
