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Benoni Zalmi name Smith as the coach in SA T20 league

The Dubai-based franchise is owned by Suhail Galadari and Javed Afridi

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The Benoni Zalmi, a franchise co-owned by Suhail Galadari and Javed Afridi, have appointed Graeme Smith as the coach for South Africa's new T20 Global League tournament, according to an announcement on the team's Twitter handle.

We are proud to announce the legendary @GraemeSmith49 as the Head Coach of Benoni Zalmi. #ZalmiFamily #BenoniZalmi #T20GL pic.twitter.com/O0oReKwrPQ
- Benoni Zalmi (@BenoniZalmi) August 21, 2017

Thank you for your kind words chairman @JAfridi10 personally very excited to be apart of BZ @BenoniZalmi #T20GL https://t.co/o3NH3vFt4F
- Graeme Smith (@GraemeSmith49) August 21, 2017

This is the first coaching assignment for the former South African captain.  
Javed Afridi, who also owns a team - Peshawar Zalmi - in Pakistan Super League,  unveiled Smith as the team coach in Cape Town on Monday.
Smith, 36, has played 117 Tests and 197 ODIs for South Africa, besides 33 T20 international matches. He had also featured in the veterans cricket league that was held in the UAE last year.
One of the most prolific South African batsmen, Smith will have Geoff Toyana as his assistant coach.
South African wicket keeper Quinton de Kock, who is an explosive batsman, especially in the shortest format of the game, is the marquee South African national player for the Dubai-based franchise. 
The first task on hand for Smith would be to pick a solid squad during Sunday's player auction in Cape Town. Over 400 players are listed for the eight-team T20 Global League. 
Meanwhile, Afraid also launched the the new Benoni Zalmi logo in front of over 1000 Benoni High School students. The logo has three words - Pride. Passion. Power - emblazoned on it. 
Benoni will be one of eight South African cities to host a franchise team during Cricket South Africa's newly formed T20 Global League in November and December. 
The Peshawar Zalmi Foundation, set up by Afraidi, has done good work around the world through initiatives to create social cohesion, inspiring youth and women's empowerment and promoting education through sport. 
"Like Peshawar Zalmi, Benoni Zalmi will not only try to attract millions of cricket fans from across the world, but will also try to contribute to various corporate social activities in Benoni in an effort to win the hearts of the South African people," the local daily Benoni City Time quoted him. 
Despite being offered a franchise base in cities like Durban, Cape Town or Pretoria, Afridi decided to base his team at Sahara Park Willowmoore.