Belgium Soars as Bavuma's Triumph Sends Team to Major Tournament Finals!
South Africa Test captain Temba Bavuma and ex-England internationals Dawid Malan and Ravi Bopara sign up to play in a men's T20 league being staged in Belgium this summer.
[Getty Images] South Africa Test and one-day captain Temba Bavuma and ex-England internationals Dawid Malan and Ravi Bopara have signed up to play in a men's T20 league being staged in Belgium this summer. BBC Sport understands the trio have all been pre-signed for the the EUT20 Belgium, a six-team tournament which will be played on the outskirts of Brussels from 6 to 14 June. Bauvma has no international commitments with South Africa between March and October and has been signed to play for the Ghent Bangla Tigers.
The 35-year-old has featured in 66 Tests and 55 one-day internationals for South Africa. He played the last of 36 T20 internationals for South Africa in 2023. Malan, 38, has been signed by Brussels Royal but will only be available from 8 June due to T20 Blast commitments with Gloucestershire.
Bopara, 40, is yet to sign a T20 deal with a county for the 2026 season so in theory is available to feature for the whole event. Other notable pre-signings include former West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell, who will represent the Antwerp Anchors, while ex-South Africa batter Rassie van der Dussen with play for JB Bruges. All of the matches at the EUT20 will be played at the 12 Stars Cricket Club Hofstade near Brussels.
A draft to allocate the remaining players - including potentially Alex Hales and James Vince - to the teams will take place in the Belgian capital on 24 March. The EUT20 is founded by an Indian-backed group called Destino Legends Sports LLC, in partnership with Cricket Belgium, with former India international Zaheer Khan among the team owners. Belgium are an Associate member of the ICC and are currently 45th in the global governing body's T20 rankings.