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[Saba Sports News] The Paarl Royals have announced Shane Bond, the former New Zealand fast bowler, as their new head coach for the 2024 season of SA20. Bond takes over from JP Duminy, who is currently with the national team. Known for his impressive cricket credentials and deep passion for the game, Bond has a history of enhancing player performance both as a player and coach. His contributions have been significant in various teams, including the New Zealand national team and T20 franchises.
Bond’s expertise is evident in his past success, notably helping the Mumbai team win four titles in nine IPL seasons. He recently joined the Rajasthan Royals, a sister franchise of Paarl Royals, as an assistant coach and fast bowling coach. Kumar Sangakkara, the Royals’ Director of Cricket, expressed enthusiasm for Bond’s debut in the SA20, citing his competitive nature, coaching excellence, and vision that align with the team’s goals, especially following their semi-final finish in the inaugural season.
Bond himself is excited about the challenge and the potential of the squad, aiming to lead the team to victory.
“It is a new challenge for me personally to be heading to the SA20, but what gives me the belief is the strong squad we have been able to assemble for the upcoming season. We have so much experience and immense potential in our ranks, which makes me excited to join the group in January and work towards achieving our target of lifting the trophy.”
The franchise, including its coaching staff, will benefit from the guidance of Director of Cricket Sangakkara and the central data and analytics team. Paarl Royals also expressed gratitude to JP Duminy for his contributions in the competition’s first season.