Celebrating Greatness: Mlaba and Maharaj Take Top Honours at CSA Awards

JOHANNESBURG: Spin took centre stage at the 2024/25 Cricket South Africa (CSA) Professional Awards on Thursday evening as Proteas Women’s left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba and Proteas Men’s stalwart Keshav Maharaj were named the Women’s and Men’s Players of the Year respectively at a glittering ceremony held at Emperors Palace in East Johannesburg.

A first-time recipient of the prestigious award, the 25-year-old Mlaba was the most decorated honoree of the evening, with four awards. She also walked away with the Women’s T20 International Player of the Year, Women’s Players’ Player of the Year, and the Best Delivery Fuelled by KFC. 

Her season was defined not only by remarkable consistency but also by her ability to deliver match-winning performances when it mattered most.

Maharaj received the award for a second time in his career, having first earned the honour in 2022, in recognition of his continued excellence across all formats and leadership within the national setup.

Other major winners in the men’s categories included Ottneil Baartman, who was named Men’s International Newcomer of the Year. Anrich Nortje took home the Men’s T20 International Player of the Year award, while Heinrich Klaasen was recognised as the Men’s One-Day International Player of the Year.

Test captain Temba Bavuma was named Test Player of the Year following a standout season in which he finished as the team’s leading run-scorer and led South Africa to the final of the ICC World Test Championship. He also received the Fans’ Player of the Year, as voted by the public.

Kagiso Rabada was recognised by his peers as the Men’s Players’ Player of the Year, while Nandre Burger claimed the Best Delivery Fuelled by KFC for his dismissal of Mikyle Louis during the second Test against the West Indies in Guyana.

In the women’s categories, Ayanda Hlubi was honoured as the International Newcomer of the Year, and Annerie Dercksen received the One-Day International Player of the Year award.

Dane Paterson was presented with the Makhaya Ntini Power of Cricket Award, which celebrates cricket’s ability to inspire and transform lives.

CSA Chief Executive Officer, Pholetsi Moseki, commented: “A heartfelt congratulations to all the nominees and winners for their outstanding achievements.

“Last night we gathered to honour a truly remarkable season of cricket, one that exemplifies our strategic pillar of Excellence.

“We not only recognised individual brilliance, but also celebrated the profound depth of cricketing talent we continue to cultivate in South Africa, both on and off the field.

“As we celebrate the winners, your dedication and commitment continue to inspire us. As we build towards hosting the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in 2027 on home soil, your passion for the game remains our greatest driving force.”

On the domestic men’s Division 1 front, DP World Lions fast bowler Kwena Maphaka was adjudged the T20 Challenge Player of the Season, Hollywoodbets Dolphins’ all-rounder Jon-Jon Smuts the One-Day Cup Player of the Season and batter Lhuan-dre Pretorius of the Momentum Multiply Titans the 4-Day Player of the Season.

Russell Domingo, head coach of the Lions, was named Division 1 Coach of the Year for the second successive season, while Ahmed Amla of the ACDC Express Tuskers won the Division 2 Coach of the Year award.

The Division 2 winners were: Eastern Storm batter Christopher Britz (T20 Knockout Player of the Season), Northern Cape Heat all-rounder Ernest Kemm (4-Day Domestic Series Player of the Season), and  Eastern Cape linyathi batter Jerome Bossr (One-Day Cup Player of the Season).

In the second edition of the Hollywoodbets Pro Series, all-rounders Kayla Reyneke (World Sports Betting Western Province) and Suné Luus were named Hollywoodbets Pro 20 Player of the Season and Hollywoodbets Pro Player of the Season, respectively.

The Lions coaching staff completed a double triumph with Shaun Pretorius, head coach of the women’s team,  receiving Hollywoodbets Pro Series Coach of the Year honour.

Leah Jones (Western Province) and Prenelan Subrayen (Dolphins) were named the Women’s and Men’s SACA Most Valuable Players of the Year. Dewald Brevis and Nondumiso Shangase were voted as the Domestic Players’ Player of the Year in their respective categories.

The Betway SA20 honours saw MI Cape Town’s Brevis named SA20 Rising Star of the Season, while Paarl Royals’ Lhuan-dre Pretorius took home SA20 Batter of the Season. Marco Jansen completed a memorable campaign for Sunrisers Eastern Cape by claiming both the SA20 Bowler of the Season and SA20 Player of the Season.

In the officiating category, Allahudien Palekar retained the CSA Umpire of the Year, while Abdoellah Steenkamp was voted by his peers as the CSA Umpires’ Umpire of the Year.