By Johnathan Paoli

Cricket players and officials from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) are among the winners at the annual KwaZulu-Natal Cricket Union (KZNCU) awards in recognition of their performances during the 2025/26 season.

The awards ceremony, held at the Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium in Durban, celebrated outstanding performances across the Dolphins Cricket Club’s talent pipeline and highlighted the depth of cricketing talent produced in KwaZulu-Natal.

Leading the university’s success was Kamran Naraidu, who enjoyed an exceptional season by winning both the Dolphins Academy Player of the Season and Bowler of the Season awards.

Dylan Hullet was named Premier League Batter of the Season, while Blake Simpson received the Second Division Batter of the Season award.

The university’s achievements extended beyond the playing field, with UKZN Cricket Club Manager Kershan Govender also receiving recognition for his outstanding achievement at the University Sport South Africa (USSA) Games held in Makhanda last year.

Speaking after receiving the award, Govender described the recognition from the province’s governing cricket body as a career highlight.

“It was a great feeling to walk up on stage and collect that accolade, being recognised by the mother body for Cricket in the province is an unbelievable feeling that one just can’t describe!” he said.

Govender said the awards capped a successful campaign for the university’s cricket programme, which continued to make significant strides in provincial competitions.

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He noted that the club reached the semi-finals of the KZN Cricket Union T20 competition and secured a fourth-place finish in the KZN Cricket Union 50 Over League, achievements he said reflected the steady progress being made by the squad.

Govender also praised the continued development of the club’s players, highlighting the opportunities earned by several student cricketers through their performances.

He confirmed both Naraidu and Simpson had been selected to participate in the Cricket South Africa (CSA) Colts Tournament, while Hullet had earned selection to the KZNCU Dolphins Academy.

According to Govender, the individual awards represented recognition of the hard work and commitment shown by the players throughout the season.

He said the club was honoured to receive acknowledgement from the KZNCU, adding that the accolades would motivate both players and management to aim even higher next season.

UKZN Executive Director of Corporate Relations Dr Normah Zondo congratulated the players and management on their achievements, saying the awards reflected the university’s commitment to sporting excellence.

“We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the UKZN Cricket Club’s players and manager on their well-deserved accolades and continued success on the provincial and national stage,” she said.

The director said the award winners’ achievements reflected the club’s commitment to continued growth and reinforced the university’s reputation as one of the country’s leading sporting universities.

Zondo said UKZN remained committed to producing talented student-athletes capable of excelling both academically and competitively.

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“We are confident that this success will inspire even greater accomplishments in the seasons ahead as we continue to strive towards producing talented student-athletes who excel both on and off the field,” she said.

The awards also highlighted the strength of UKZN’s cricket development structures, with several players progressing into higher representative programmes within the Dolphins and Cricket South Africa pathways.

The recognition comes after the UKZN Cricket Club also enjoyed success at the USSA Games, where the university claimed the national title, further strengthening its reputation as one of the country’s leading university cricket programmes.

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