JOHANNESBURG: One of the key honours at the Cricket South Africa (CSA) Pathway Awards 2025, taking place in Johannesburg on 31 July, is the CSA Under-19 Player of the Year award. This accolade recognises players who have made outstanding contributions at the U19 level throughout the 2024/25 season.
The nominees for this year’s CSA U19 Men’s Player of the Year are Adnaan Lagadien (Western Province), Muhammad Bulbulia (KZN Inland), (Central Gauteng Lions), JJ Basson (Central Gauteng Lions), and Jason Rowles (Central Gauteng Lions).
Janicke Janse van Rensburg (Titans), Sive Silati (Western Province), and Olwethu Gasa (KZN Coastal) are in line for the top award in women’s youth cricket, the CSA Girls U19 Player of the Tournament 2025.
These awards have been a stepping stone for players who have gone on to represent South Africa at the highest level. Recent winners include Karabo Meso (2023) and Kwena Maphaka (2024), both of whom made their senior international debuts after receiving the award.
Maphaka was crowned after taking 21 wickets at the ICC Men’s U19 Cricket World Cup 2024, helping South Africa reach the semi-finals on home soil.
“It was massive for me in terms of my career at that point. Coming from a World Cup prior and being the most senior player in the team, I felt the responsibility to put in big performances for the team and I was really pleased that I could do that,”
Maphaka’s rise continued as he became the youngest Proteas Men debutant at just 18 years and 137 days old, playing in the first T20 International against the West Indies in August 2024, shortly before completing high school.
“There have been a lot of memorable moments, but I think the standout was my Proteas debut. I had always believed that I’d be in the mix around age 22, so to play my first game before I had written prelims was really cool and a massive honour and privilege.”
Meso made her Proteas Women debut at 16 years old, playing against Sri Lanka in March 2024. She later played a key role in helping the SA U19 Women reach the ICC Women’s U19 T20 World Cup final in 2025 after impressing in the first-ever instalment of the competition which was held in South Africa in 2023.
“Winning the U19 Player of the Year meant a lot to me in every aspect since I started playing cricket. It was the biggest award I’ve ever received, bigger than any other award I’ve received in cricket.
“Even when I’m staring at it at home in front of the TV, it reminds me of the 2023 CSA Awards. Walking up to the stage and receiving it from Chloe Tryon and Anrich Nortje, I won’t forget that moment.
“Looking back at the U19 team, it prepared me in so many ways. It taught me how to carry myself on and off the field, and around people. It also gave me a taste of what life is like as a Protea, how professional players live day-to-day.
“Now I know what’s right and wrong, and I’m grateful for everything the U19 setup taught me,” she concluded.
Source: cricket.co.za
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