Batsman Ryan Rickelton and pacer Ottniel Baartman emerge as the two uncapped players selected in South Africa’s provisional squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup, to be led by Aiden Markram, set to take place in the West Indies and the USA.
Rickelton showcased his prowess as the leading run-scorer in the SA20, amassing 530 runs at an impressive average of 58.88 for MI Cape Town, while Baartman demonstrated his bowling prowess by claiming 18 wickets in eight matches for two-time champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape.
Among the notable absentees are Temba Bavuma, Rilee Rossouw, and Wayne Parnell, who were part of the previous T20 World Cup squad in 2022.
Rassie van der Dussen, who missed the 2022 edition due to a broken finger, is also not included.
However, Lungi Ngidi, a member of the 2022 squad, has been named as a traveling reserve alongside Nandre Burger for the tournament.
South Africa squad for T20 World Cup 2024:
| Player Name |
|---|
| Aiden Markram (Captain) |
| Ottniel Baartman |
| Gerald Coetzee |
| Quinton de Kock |
| Bjorn Fortuin |
| Reeza Hendricks |
| Marco Jansen |
| Heinrich Klaasen |
| Keshav Maharaj |
| David Miller |
| Anrich Nortje |
| Kagiso Rabada |
| Ryan Rickelton |
| Tabraiz Shamsi |
| Tristan Stubbs |
Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje, set to return after a nine-month hiatus, will spearhead South Africa’s pace battery, complemented by Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee, and Baartman.
Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi lead the spin department, supported by Bjorn Fortuin, while Markram and Tristan Stubbs provide additional spin options.
In the batting lineup, Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, and Stubbs feature alongside Markram and Rickelton.
“Choosing this squad was incredibly challenging given the recent abundance of T20 cricket and the exceptional form displayed by many players in 2024.
I extend my congratulations to the two uncapped players, Ryan and Ottniel, on their selection,” stated head coach Rob Walter.
“We’ve witnessed outstanding performances from our players, making the selection process immensely difficult.
Nevertheless, I am confident that we have assembled the strongest squad possible, poised for success in the West Indies and USA.”
South Africa has also announced a provisional squad for the three-match T20I series against West Indies preceding the T20 World Cup.
However, the squad is subject to change based on the availability of players currently participating in the IPL.
“Our preparations for the tournament kick off with a three-match T20I series against West Indies.
Regrettably, most of our IPL-bound players won’t be available for this tour.
Nonetheless, it presents an opportunity for others, especially those who shone in the CSA T20 Challenge.
We will finalize the captaincy closer to the tour,” added Walter.
South Africa squad for WI T20Is:
| Player Name |
|---|
| Ottniel Baartman |
| Matthew Breetzke |
| Bjorn Fortuin |
| Reeza Hendricks |
| Patrick Kruger |
| Wiaan Mulder |
| Lungi Ngidi |
| Nqaba Peter |
| Ryan Rickelton |
| Andile Phehlukwayo |
| Tabraiz Shamsi |
| Rassie van der Dussen |
South Africa, competing in Group D, will kick off their T20 World Cup campaign against Sri Lanka on June 3 in New York.
Subsequently, they will face the Netherlands on June 8 and Bangladesh on June 10, both matches at the same venue.
Their final group stage encounter will be against Nepal on June 14 in St. Vincent.
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