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Cape Town - Farhaan Behardien will captain the Proteas for the first time on Friday in the first T20I against Sri Lanka at Centurion.
It is fitting that such a significant moment in the career of the 33-year-old will come on his home ground and a turf where he has excelled on the domestic circuit since 2007.
The Proteas have opted to rest a number of their big names, including regular captain Faf du Plessis, for the first two T20Is of the three-match series.
It has given Behardien a responsibility that took the cricketing community by surprise, but he seems ready for the challenge.
"It’s quite surreal," he said of the captaincy.
"Even though we have been training hard this week, we’ve had meetings, we’ve been together as a group, I suppose tomorrow (Friday) it will sink in.
"It’s a full house at SuperSport Park tomorrow and I will be driving into the stadium with a different purpose.
"Normally you come in, you hit balls, do your catching, but now I will be discussing tactics and strategy with the players ... I will have to do interviews and press conferences.
"It is slightly different to being a normal player, but I’m excited, it’s a very proud moment of my career."
Play starts at 18:00 on Friday.
