Primrose duo makes it to SA Over-50s squad

The Over-50s World Cup comes to Cape Town next month and two of the players are sure to have strong local support. FEROZ SHAIK reports.

THE Primrose Cricket club duo of Goolam Taliep and Saleem Mukuddem has been selected in the South African Over-50s team to play at the Over-50s World Cup in Cape Town in March.

Having grown up on the Cape Flats, both players never thought they would get a chance to represent their country at any level but consistent performances in the Western Province Veterans League has given them an opportunity to achieve a dream that started in the eighties while playing under the banner of the South African Cricket Board during the apartheid era.

After having played together from way back in the 1988/89 season for Western Province Schools, the pair now find themselves playing for South Africa at an ICC international tournament.

Taliep, who is 50, and Mukuddem 51, have been consistent performers for Primrose CC in the Veterans League which led to their selection. Both players were excited when they were named in the squad.

‘Alhamdulillah, it was tense when they said they were going to name the squad after the Inter-Provincial tournament last year but I’m over the moon and emotional,’ said Taliep, while Mukuddem added: ‘I am extremely excited and honoured to be playing for the country of my birth.”

Both players have been playing the sport for as long as they can remember. Taliep is the nephew of former WP legends ‘Dik’ and ‘Lobo’ Abed while Mukuddem comes from a popular cricketing family in Rylands and is the Chairman of Rylands CC. The AW Mukuddem Oval is named after his father, the late Abdul Wahab Mukuddem.

The pair made the SA Over-50s team after good performances for Western Province in the provincial tournament in Pretoria last year that saw them win the tournament.

‘It was difficult to adapt to 45 overs after playing 20 overs for the vets and 35 overs on a Saturday but we adapted in difficult conditions,’ said Taliep, who finished the tournament as second highest wicket taker.

‘I didn’t have a fantastic tournament but took 4 wickets in a match,’ added Mukuddem.

The 2023 Over-50s World Cup will be played at various venues around Cape Town from March 6 to 20 with the final taking place at Newlands.

Rylands CC will host three matches on March 9, 12 and 19.

For Mukuddem , it’s an honour to host a few matches .

‘The tournament requires the venue to be of a certain standard but we are committed to making that happen. It’s quite an honour. The oval is named after my dad and it’s one way to continue his legacy,’ he added.

The South Africa 2023 Over-50s World Cup squad: