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Mumbai Indians-owned MI Cape Town have made their first wildcard signing for the inaugural edition of the SA20 in the form of premium pacer Jofra Archer. The Englishman who is well on the track to coming back to cricketing action has also got the No-Objection Certificate from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). The right-arm pacer will be available for the first edition to be held in January-February 2023.
Notably, the organizers announced on Monday (21 November) that the six franchises can sign a wildcard player. “In an exciting introduction, the six SA20 franchise teams will have the opportunity to sign a wild card player to their squads ahead of the inaugural season starting on 10 January. Teams may sign a South African or an overseas player who was not registered in the auction and will have until 30 December to make their selections,” said SA20 in a statement.
Now, MI Cape Town have made the most of this new rule as they have got a premium pacer in Archer. As the English pacer did not register for the auction (due to being in rehabilitation), he was eligible for selection and the franchise did not waste this opportunity. "MI Cape Town announce the signing of Jofra Archer as their SA20 wildcard player ahead of the inaugural season of SA20," the franchise said in a statement on Wednesday (November 23).
Talking about Archer’s recovery, the right-arm pacer was spotted bowling in the nets. Archer also played for the England Lions against England in the warm-up game ahead of the Three Lions' tour to Pakistan. Not only did he play but bowled a vicious bouncer to Zak Crawley and almost knocked the batter’s helmet off.