Andile Simelane

Andile Simelane (born 3 June 2003) is a South African cricketer. He made his List A debut on 26 January 2020, for KwaZulu-Natal Inland in the 2019–20 CSA Provincial One-Day Challenge. He made his Twenty20 debut on 8 October 2021, for the South Africa Under-19s in the 2021–22 CSA Provincial T20 Knock-Out tournament. In November 2021, he was named in South Africa's team for the 2022 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in the West Indies. On 19 February 2023, he made his First class debut for Dolphins in the 2022–23 CSA 4-Day Series tournament. Quotes when he told me that I was going to be part of the squad that was going to the United Arab Emirates I was surprised, and I didn't know how to express my feelings because I was alone at home at the time. So, I didn't know what to do, should I call my mom, or should I tell my friend? But I was happy to get a call like that, I'm not going to lie I ended up telling my mom and she thought I was joking at first because I always crack jokes at home. So, she thought I was joking, and I told her to switch on her TV and then she saw the news and she went crazy after that. She was happy for me because she's been around since I started playing Andile Simelane and how he nearly didn’t take that call from Proteas coach Rob Walter, September 2025, IOL by Michael Sherman I started playing cricket when I was little. At the time it was called KFC Mini-Cricket I actually didn't know I had the talent to play mini-cricket. My friend told me to come and play, and I said I wasn’t keen, but then he said there’ll be free KFC, and then I was like ‘No, I have to go now because we’re getting free food. Everyone likes free food.’ I got a scholarship in Grade 6 to attend Maritzburg College, Going to Maritzburg College, becoming a boarder, staying away from home, missing my friends, was not easy for me At College, I developed the understanding that I could actually become a professional. That’s where my mind changed and I fell in love with the sport I made KwaZulu-Natal U15s. That’s where coaches saw me, got invited to camps, I think it was called TAP [Talent Acceleration Programme] camps That’s where I managed to get more information about cricket. I was still young, and thought it was just a sport that I would play, and after high school I would do something else Growing up I think what inspired me was watching Andile Phehlukwayo, Khaya Zondo, because they are also from Durban I was a kid, growing up, going to watch the Dolphins at Kingsmead, watching them play, that’s where I told myself I also want to be part of Dolphins cricket That’s when I thought I could have a career It was something special for me to get a chance, an opportunity to work with the best coaches and overseas players. I was very exciting to be part of the defending champions. I worked with Dale; he’s added a few things to my bowling. I think those things have helped me a lot. Growing up I wanted to be part of the best teams in the world. It’s something I will never forget MEET THE ROOKIE: ANDILE SIMELANE, July 2024, Betway SA20 by the Reporter External links Category:Cricketers from South Africa Category:Living people Category:2003 births