English cricketer Joe Root is ready to play his first game in the SA20 league after being signed by the Paarl Royals for the 2025 season, the team announced on July 19, Friday. Meanwhile, Ben Stokes is also set to play in the tournament as he has reportedly been given an offer by the MI Cape Town team, according to British media. Root previously played for RR, which is connected to the Paarl Royals, during the 2023 season, and he will join his teammate Jos Buttler in the SA20.

The Paarl Royals will officially announce this news on Friday on their website. Last season, the Royals reached the playoffs but lost to the Jo’Burg Super Kings in the eliminator round.

The Paarl Royals, a team owned by Royals Sports Group, announced on Friday that they have signed Joe Root, one of England’s top cricketers, for the 2025 season of the SA20. Joe Root, who is 33 years old, will play for the Paarl Royals in the 2025 SA20 season. He has previously played for another team called the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL in 2023.

Kumar Sangakkara, the Director of Cricket for the Paarl Royals, expressed his excitement about having Root join the team. Sangakkara mentioned that they plan to utilize Root’s skills during the tournament and also benefit from his guidance to help improve the players both on and off the field.

“Everyone recognizes Joe Root as an exceptional player, and it’s fantastic to have him return to the Royals. He has consistently made significant contributions to every team he’s played for and has shown his worth as a versatile player with his skills in bowling and fielding. As we witnessed in the IPL 2023 and throughout his career, he’s also a supportive team member who can help his colleagues improve both on and off the field. We’re excited to leverage his experience, his character, his intelligence, and his on-field performance to aim for a successful season in the SA20 in 2025,” Sangakkara stated.

The Telegraph reports that MI Cape Town, which is related to MI, has made a big offer to Stokes for the next SA20 season. The England Test team leader has not played in shorter games since the 2023 ODI World Cup and did not participate in the T20 World Cup this year because he was preparing to bowl again in the longest format of cricket game.

Both Stokes and Root are now playing in the second Test against West Indies at Trent Bridge.