In a major development ahead of the upcoming SA20 season, Kavya Maran has pulled off a key signing that’s set to shake up the tournament landscape. The Sunrisers Eastern Cape (SEC) owner has secured the services of Afghan spin sensation Allah Ghazanfar from Mumbai Indians, adding serious firepower to her already strong squad. The SA20 2025-26 season is expected to kick off later this year or early 2026.
A new spin weapon for the Sunrisers
Ghazanfar, a promising right-arm off-spinner, was initially slated to play for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2025. However, an untimely injury kept him out of action. Despite this setback, his T20 numbers speak volumes — 34 wickets in 21 games at a stunning average of 13.64. His exploits for MI Emirates in the ILT20 have also drawn significant attention, and now, he’ll look to make a similar impact in South Africa.
Maran’s SEC side has already established a winning culture in SA20, lifting the trophy twice and finishing runners-up last season to MI Cape Town, owned by Nita Ambani. With this signing, SEC appears determined to return to the top.
Rivalry intensifies between SRH and MI setups
What makes this transfer more intriguing is the behind-the-scenes rivalry between two of the most prominent female franchise owners in cricket — Maran and Ambani. While Ambani’s MI Cape Town had the last laugh in the SA20 2024-25 final, Maran’s latest acquisition could be a game-changer in the upcoming season.
On the IPL front, things didn’t go as planned for Maran’s Indian outfit, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). After finishing as runners-up in IPL 2024, the team slumped to a 6th-place finish in the 2025 edition, missing out on the playoffs despite a late surge with three back-to-back wins. With renewed intent and strategic additions like Ghazanfar in the SA20, the Sunrisers brand seems committed to bouncing back stronger across leagues.
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