The Paarl Royals have announced the appointment of Trevor Penney as their new Head Coach for the upcoming 2025 SA20 season, scheduled from 9th January to 8th February 2025. Penney will take over from Shane Bond, who will now focus on preparations for the IPL 2025 with the Rajasthan Royals, where he serves as Bowling Coach alongside recently appointed Head Coach Rahul Dravid.
Penney, a former Zimbabwean player, brings a wealth of experience to the Paarl Royals, having recently led the Barbados Royals in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). Under his guidance, the Barbados Royals reached the CPL Final in 2022 and advanced to Qualifier 2 in 2024. His success in the CPL has positioned him as a strong leader with a track record of driving team performance.
In his new role with Paarl Royals, Penney will work closely with David Miller, the team’s captain and South African cricket star, as they aim to push for their first SA20 title. The Royals have been consistent playoff contenders, reaching the semi-finals in 2023 and making another playoff appearance in 2024.
Kumar Sangakkara, Director of Cricket for the Royals, expressed confidence in Penney’s leadership, praising his transformation of the Barbados Royals into a competitive force in the CPL. As Penney steps in, Shane Bond will focus on his IPL responsibilities, overseeing the Rajasthan Royals’ IPL preparations alongside Rahul Dravid and Vikram Rathour.
Penney’s experience in T20 leagues around the world is expected to bolster the Royals’ chances in the SA20, as they aim to build on their strong recent performances and contend for the title in 2025.
