When opportunity knocks, you don’t hesitate; you walk through the door. That’s exactly what Meeka-eel Prince did when North West came calling.
The talented Cape Town-born batter has quickly made Potchefstroom his “home away from home”, and in our latest sit-down, he opened up about the journey, the lessons, and the mindset that’s driving his early success in professional cricket.
“Yeah, I think it’s not too bad. I’ve settled in quite nicely. The guys in the team made it a bit easier for me to settle in… and I’ve got a few close mates there too. One of my closest mates, Caleb, plays with me. Craig’s been nothing but exceptional to me.”
It’s clear that the move north wasn’t just about cricket – it was about backing himself.
“To be honest, there were chats around Western Province, but I didn’t really get anything solid from them. They gave me an academy contract, while Craig offered me a rookie deal — that’s a professional contract. For me, it was a no-brainer. It felt like Province didn’t have a plan for me. Craig did.”
And that decision? It’s paid off. Prince’s performances at the top of the order have reflected the maturity of a player who’s learning to marry discipline with natural flair — a balance he says came from red-ball cricket.
“I used to focus too much on white-ball cricket, neglected my red-ball game. But when I went to the National Academy, my focus was opening in red-ball cricket. I want to open in all three formats — not just be known as a white-ball cricketer.”
“Working on that discipline – leaving well, defending well – it actually helped my white-ball cricket. You understand your game better. I’d 100% encourage young batters to focus on red-ball cricket. It helps everything.”
Inside the Dragons’ dressing room, Prince says the influence of captain Wihan Lubbe and others has raised his own standards.
“I was always a guy who did the bare minimum – relied on my talent. But seeing how the guys go about their business, it’s like, you need to catch a wake-up. You can’t just do the bare minimum. The environment forces you to do more.”
He also praised the team culture that Craig Alexander and the senior players have built:
“Everyone’s got their role, and that’s why the environment is so good. We’re not relying on one or two guys. Everyone wants to do well, and when the tough moments come, guys put their hands up.”
With youngsters like Dewald Brevis and Lhuan-Dre Pretorius breaking into the Proteas setup, Prince admits it’s inspiring – but he’s staying grounded.
“They deserve it. But for me, it’s about running my own race. My time will come, hopefully. I just want to keep doing well domestically and earn that call-up the right way.”
And that time may be coming sooner than he thinks.
“It hasn’t really sunk in yet. When my brother phoned and I started getting all these calls, I knew something was up — it was emotional. But yeah, I’m excited. It’s something I’ve wanted for the past three, four years.”
Prince is proof that belief, patience, and the right environment can turn potential into performance.
🎥 Watch the full interview with Meeka-eel Prince on YouTube:
